Jean-François Heidenreich

Jean-François Heidenreich (March 28, 1811 – March 29, 1872) was a French executioner and the first person to hold the position of Chief Executioner of France.[1]

His father, François-Joseph, had himself been an executioner in Chalon-sur-Saône until 1806.[1]

From 1849 until 1871, Hendenreich served as an executioner of Paris and held this job through the Second French Republic, Second French Empire, and Third French Republic. In 1871, he became the first sole executioner of France, as local executioners positions were eliminated. He acted briefly in this capacity until his death.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Jacques Delarue, 2014: Le Métier de bourreau: Du Moyen Age à aujourd'hui. Fayard (online (unpaginated))
  2. ^ Jean-Michel Bessette: "Entre Le Monstre et La Loi, Une Figure Singuliere: Le Bourreau" in Incontournable Morale: colloque international de Besançon, 9–10 October 1997, p. 126 (online)

Further reading

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  • Frédéric Armand, 2012: Les bourreaux en France: Du Moyen Âge à l'abolition de la peine de mort, Paris, Perrin, coll. "Synthèses Historiques", 336 p. (ISBN 9782262037987)
  • Marie-Christine Pénin, Les bourreaux ou exécuteurs des hautes-œuvres et leurs sépultures
Government offices
Preceded by Executioner of Paris
1849 – 1871
Succeeded by
Provincial executioners eliminated
Preceded by
New title
Chief Executioner of the French Republic
1871 – 1872
Succeeded by