Famous People Who Died of Execution - Celebrities with Execution

Capital punishment has become a rarity in today’s world though it was quite common until a few decades ago. In fact, in the past centuries, not just criminals, but also political dissidents and rebels were routinely executed. One of the most famous figures to have ever been executed was the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, who was accused of “failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges” and “introducing new deities.” Sir Thomas More, an English social philosopher, faced execution for his “treason, religious dissent” while Sir William Wallace, one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence was brutally executed for high treason. Coming to the 20th century, Adolf Eichmann, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, and Arthur Seyss-Inquart were executed for their involvement in war crimes against humanity. Ion Victor Antonescu, who presided over two successive wartime dictatorships in Romania was another figure to be convicted of war crimes and executed. Talking of politically motivated executions, General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, a military head of state of Ghana, was deposed and later executed by firing squad. This section gives you more information about the life and works of famous people who were executed.

List of famous people who were executed, including photos, birth date, nationality, reason for execution and other information.

The Most Famous People Who Died of Execution

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Irma GreseOctober 7, 1923GermanIrma Grese was a notorious German Nazi concentration camp guard during the Second World War
Aileen WuornosFebruary 29, 1956AmericanAileen Wuornos was a serial killer who was sentenced to death for killing seven men in Florida
Anatoly SlivkoDecember 28, 1938RussianAnatoly Slivko was a Soviet serial killer
Ernst KaltenbrunnerOctober 4, 1903AustrianErnst Kaltenbrunner was an Austrian Nazi Party leader during World War II
John Wayne GacyMarch 17, 1942AmericanJohn Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer and rapist who targeted boys and young men
Alfred RosenbergJanuary 12, 1893GermanAlfred Rosenberg was one of the leading ideologists of the Nazi Party who played a decisive role in shaping Nazi philosophy
William Wallace1270ScottishWilliam Wallace was a Scottish knight who was a central figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence
Amelia Dyer1837BritishAmelia Dyer is known as one of the most brutal and infamous serial killers in history
Che GuevaraJune 14, 1928ArgentinianChe Guevara is one of the most revered and legendary political figures in world history
Uday HusseinJune 18, 1964IraqiUday Hussein was the eldest of the two sons of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
Irma Grese

Irma Grese

Irma Grese was a notorious German Nazi concentration camp guard during the Second World War

GermanOctober 7, 19232,726 views

Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was the fifth President of Iraq whose regime lasted for nearly two and a half decades

IraqiApril 28, 1937264 views

Georges Danton

Georges Danton was a French revolutionary

FrenchOctober 26, 1759296 views

Andrei Chikatilo

Andrei Chikatilo was a soviet serial killer, who killed a total of 56 people in Soviet Russia during the 70s and 80s

RussianOctober 16, 1936323 views

Vidkun Quisling

Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian army official and a politician, who supported Hitler during Nazi invasion of Norway

NorwegianJuly 18, 1887182 views

Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini was an Italian politician and leader of the Fascist party, who ruled the country as Prime Minister from 1922 until 1943

ItalianJuly 29, 1883237 views

Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes, is a prominent figure in the history of medieval England

BritishApril 13, 1570140 views

Ernst Kaltenbrunner

Ernst Kaltenbrunner was an Austrian Nazi Party leader during World War II

AustrianOctober 4, 1903630 views

Clara Petacci

Clara Petacci was the mistress of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini

ItalianFebruary 28, 1912150 views

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII of England

British1501120 views