When and who invented the electric chair?

Who invented the electric chair? The carpenter, the electrician, the scientist - such variants come to mind. You will probably be surprised when you find out that this person's profession was different. In this article, we answer the question: who invented the electric chair? It requires detailed consideration, since the story associated with it is very curious. Thomas Edison in the late 19th century invented the incandescent lamp. Of course, this person is not the one who invented the electric chair. However, this was the first step on the way to a multitude of discoveries related to electricity. This invention, in particular, allowed us to use it for lighting cities.

The idea that came Albert Southwick

Many are interested in the question: Who was the creator of the new method of execution? It is believed that Albert Southwick is the one who invented the electric chair. His profession is a dentist. This man was a native of the city of New York, the city of Buffalo. The one who invented the electric chair (his profession, as you see, is somewhat unexpected), believed that it can be used as an anesthetic in medical practice. Once Albert saw how one of the residents of Buffalo touched bare wires . This man died, Southwick thought then, painlessly and almost instantly. This incident led him to the idea that the execution with the use of electricity can be replaced, as a more rapid and humane punishment, the hanging at that time. Southwick first suggested using electricity to get rid of unnecessary animals, instead of drowning them. Colonel Rockwell, the head of the Society for the Protection of Animals from Cruelty, liked this idea.

Conclusion of the commission

Southwick in 1882 conducted a series of experiments on animals and published his scientific results in scientific newspapers. Alberta is often considered to be the one who invented the electric chair. However, many people took part in its development. In particular, Southwick showed the results of his experiments to David McMillan, the senator and his friend. He said that the execution using electricity was painless, which is its main advantage. McMillian advocated the preservation of the death penalty. This idea attracted him as an argument against its repeal. Heard McMillian conveyed to D. B. Hill, Governor of New York. In 1886, a special commission was created, which included Southwick (the profession of a man who invented an electric chair, a dentist, as already mentioned), Elurige Jerry (politician) and Matthew Hale (judge). Her conclusion, which was set out on the 95 pages of the report, stated that the best method of executing the death penalty was execution with the use of electricity. The staff was recommended in this report to replace the new type of execution with hanging.

The death penalty law

In 1888, on June 5, the relevant law was signed by the governor, which was to become effective since 1889. It remained to decide which type of electric current should be used : alternating or permanent. What are they different? Let's figure it out.

Alternating and direct current

Scientists from various countries worked on this issue long before the invention, made by Thomas Edison. However, Edison (pictured below) first put into practice the theory developed before him. In 1879, the first power plant was built. The Edison system operated on direct current. However, it flows only in one direction, so it was impossible to supply current for a long distance. It was necessary to build power plants to provide a city of medium-sized electricity.

The output was found by Nikola Tesla, a Croatian scholar. He owns the idea of using alternating current, which can change its direction several times per second, creating a magnetic field and not losing electrical voltage. It is possible to lower or increase the alternating voltage using transformers. Such a current can be transmitted with small losses over long distances, after which it is possible to bring electricity to consumers through a step-down transformer.

Start using AC

This system attracted investors, one of which was George Westinghouse (pictured below).

He wanted to make the use of alternating current profitable , but Edison's technology was more popular at that time. It was on Edison that Tesla worked, but he did not pay attention to his developments, and Tesla resigned. The scientist soon patented his ideas. Westinghouse bought 40 patents from Tesla in 1888, and more than a hundred cities used AC systems in a few years.

"Clash of the Titans"

In 1887, Edison began to discredit this system, demanding the collection of information from his employees about the incidence of death caused by alternating current. So he hoped to prove that the method is safer for the population.

"The Battle of the Titans" began when the question arose about which type of current should be used for the death penalty. Nikola Tesla (pictured below) at the same time avoided any statements about Thomas and preferred to remain silent. But Thomas thrashed Tesla with his inherent non-fussiness and enthusiasm. "War of the Currents" lasted until 2007! In New York, only in the 21st century, the last DC wires were symbolically cut. The whole network of America and the whole world was finally transferred to alternating current.

Brochure and presentation of Edison

Since Edison did not want his invention anyway associated with death, he wished the alternating current to be applied in the apparatus intended for the death penalty. The scientist published a brochure "Warning" in 1887. In it, he compared the direct current with the variables and pointed to the safety of the latter.

Speech before the commission of Thomas Edison made a strong impression. All present, the inventor was convinced that with the use of alternating current, the death from electricity is quick and painless. The Commission to address this issue faced an alternative to the use of lethal injection, which is considered humane than electrocution. It was in the 20th century that practically all states began to use it, where the death penalty existed. Perhaps, many would not have to suffer in the electric chair, if there were no competition between the companies, as well as Thomas Edison's convincing speech before the commission. The question was also that the execution by lethal injection is done by doctors, which for obvious reasons is impossible.

The first execution

In 1889, on January 1, the first execution took place using the invention of an electric chair (photo below). The unit used for her was called the vesting chair, or the chair of Westinghouse, a few decades later. In the spring of 1891 the following executions took place. For various crimes, 4 people were executed. The method of enforcing the sentence was corrected. Became a more powerful generator and thicker wires. The 2nd electrode was connected to the arm, not to the spine. These executions were carried out more smoothly, and a new method was adopted by public opinion.

The Execution of William Kemmler

William Kemmler, who killed his civilian wife with an ax, was the first "tester" of this innovation. He was executed in the city of Auburn in 1890, on August 6. He could not, for some reason, describe his feelings. The one who invented the electric chair could not foresee what happened. The witnesses who were present during the enforcement of the sentence noted that the offender was still alive 15-20 seconds after the 1st grade. I had to turn on the current for a longer time and with more voltage. The "experiment" was still painfully and long brought to an end. Many executions of the world and American public were caused by this execution.

Murder with electric chair

We describe the technology of murder with the use of an electric chair. The offender sits down on him, and he is tied with leather straps to the chair, fixing the chest, hips, ankles and wrists. Two copper electrodes are fixed on the body: one on the leg (for a better conduct of electricity, the skin under it is shaved), and the other on the shaved crown. Electrodes are usually lubricated with a special gel in order to reduce burning of the skin and improve the current flow. An opaque mask is put on the face.

The hangman pushes the switch on the control panel, thereby giving the 1st charge, which voltage ranges from 1700 to 2400 volts, and the duration is about 30-60 seconds. The timer is preset in advance, and the current is automatically cut off. The doctor after two charges examines the body of the criminal, because he may still be killed. As a result of paralysis of breathing and cardiac arrest, death occurs.

Improvement

However, modern executors concluded that instantaneous cardiac arrest (ie, clinical death) does not cause passage through the brain of the current. It only prolongs torment. Criminals are now making incisions, and electrodes are injected into the right hip and left shoulder so that the charge passes through the heart and the aorta.

Electric chair - severe punishment

Is it really important who invented the electric chair: a carpenter or an electrician? More importantly, this method of punishment is inhuman. Although all the methods of execution are cruel to one degree or another, it is the electric chair that often gives tragic malfunctions that cause additional suffering to the sentenced, especially when the equipment used is in need of repair or old. This led to the fact that this type of death penalty was recognized under the influence of Leo Jones, a well-known American human rights activist, an inapplicable, brutal punishment that runs counter to the US Constitution.

Now you know who invented the electric chair. Dentist Albert Southwick, apparently, did not even suspect what fate awaited the idea that had come into his head. Today, this method of execution has become one of the symbols of the United States. But the electric chair was invented by a dentist who only wanted to alleviate the suffering of people.