273 people were publicly hanged in Scotland between 1800 and 1868, comprising 259 men and 14 women.
A further 207 were sentenced to death but reprieved or respited.
At least 39 men and 3 women received the death sentence for murder between 1869 and 1899. Of these 16 men and 1 woman were subsequently hanged.
Scotland had a system of Assize courts in 4 circuits, one each for West, East, South & North.
The High Court of Justiciary sat in Edinburgh and was an independent court for that city.
It would also take difficult cases from other areas.
The King & Privy Council had to approve Scottish death sentences so there tended to be a greater time
between sentence and execution or reprieve than in England due to the communications difficulty.
The crimes for which these people were hanged break down as follows.
| Murder | 125 |
| Housebreaking | 55 |
| Robbery | 30 |
| Highway robbery | 13 |
| Stouthrief | 9 |
| Forgery | 8 |
| Theft | 8 |
| Horse theft | 7 |
| Uttering | 5 |
| Rape | 4 |
| Treason | 3 |
| Hamesucken | 3 |
| Sheep stealing | 2 |
| Arson | 1 |
| Total | 273 |
Stouthrief is a form robbery taking place in a dwelling house.
Hamesucken is “the seeking and invasion of a person in his dwelling house”.
Neither crime appears in English law.
1800
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on the 27th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 12 March | Griffith Williams | Murder of Anne Wilson | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 22nd of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 11th June | Peter Greig | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on the 20th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 3rd September | Samuel Bell | Utter forged notes | Edinburgh |
The High Court of Justiciary tried Richard Broxup on the 29th of December and he was hanged in February 1801.
Peter Anderson & Lauchlan Love were tried on the 30th of December, and both were reprieved.
1801
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 11th February | Richard Broxup | Theft | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh. John M’Neil & Michael M’Neil tried on the 19th of March for uttering forgery and both reprieved (07/08/01).
Jedburgh, tried 3rd of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 12th May | Robert Robison | Horse theft | Jedburgh |
Perth, tried 16 April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 12th June | John Watt (West) | Housebreaking & theft | Dundee |
High Court of Justiciary, tried 20 July
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 26th August | George Walker | Horse theft | Edinburgh |
Aberdeen, tried on 16 October
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 11th December | John Young | Murder of James Davidson | Aberdeen |
Perth, tried 23rd October
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 18th December | John Malloch | Housebreaking & theft | Perth |
1802
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 4th of January
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 10th February | Andrew Lawrie | Stole from letter | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 1st of March
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 7th April | George Lindsay | Murder of John Allan | Edinburgh |
Perth, tried 21st of April, James Fraser for shop breaking and theft. Reprieved 28. 5.02
High Court of Justiciary tried on the 8th of November
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 15th December | Robert Brown & James Clarke | Mail robbery | Edinburgh |
1803
Glasgow, tried on the 2nd of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 8th June | William Cunningham | Theft | Glasgow |
Perth, tried on the 20th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 4th November | William Crighton | Sheep theft | Perth |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 28th November John Cowie. Hanged 1804.
1804
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 19th January | John Cowie | Murder of wife | Edinburgh |
Aberdeen, tried on the 24th of April. Penelope M’Kenzie for theft. Reprieved 1. 5.04
Dumfries, tried on the 15th of September. John Cook for rape. Reprieved 31. 5.05
Inverary, tried on the 17th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 31st October | Duncan M’Arthur | Murder of wife | Crinan Canal |
1805 (Parliamentary Papers {PP} state that 3 out of 5 death sentences were carried out)
Glasgow, tried on the 1st of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 5th June | David Scott & Hugh Adamson | Forgery | Glasgow |
Edinburgh, tried on the 24th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 28th August | James Allen | Housebreaking & theft | Edinburgh |
1806 (Parliamentary Papers state that 4 out of 8 death sentences were carried out)
Perth, sentenced on the 6th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 21st June | John Westwater | Murder of John Orr | Kinghorn |
| Friday 11th July | Donald M’Graw | Murder of Euphemia Compar | Perth |
Margaret Cunningham was convicted husband murder and her case referred to the High Court of Justiciary
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh.
Tried on the 17th of July, Robert Johnston for shop breaking. Reprieved 7. 8.06
Tried on the 31st of July, Janet Hamilton & James Campbell for arson. Reprieved 9. 8.06
Tried on the 5th of November. John Thomson & John Nilson for forgery and uttering. Reprieved 29.11.06
Tried on the 20th of November. Margaret Cunningham for the murder of her husband. Hanged 1807.
Tried on the 8th of December Thomas Smith & George Stevenson for horse theft. Hanged 1807
1807 (PP – state that 5 out of 6 death sentences carried out)
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 7th January | Margaret Cunningham | Murder of her husband | Edinburgh |
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 21st January | Thomas Smith & George Stevenson | Horse theft | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary Edinburgh, tried 2nd of February
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 11th March | Matthew Smith | Murder infant girl | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 5th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 10th June | Adam Cox | Murder son | Glasgow |
Tried at Dumfries on the 11th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 21st October | Maitland Smith | Murder of Alex Williamson | Dumfries |
Inverary, tried on the 21st of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 28th November | Peter M’Dougal | Murder of wife | Inverary |
Tried at Perth on the 5th of October. David Peter for the murder of George Shepherd. Reprieved 6.11.07
1808 (PP – state that 3 out of 6 death sentences carried out)
High Court of Justiciary tried on the 4th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 10th February | Barbara Malcolm | Murder daughter, Margaret | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 27th of April: Thomas Howard for housebreaking and theft. Reprieved 30. 5.08.
James Gilchrist for the murder of his wife, case referred to High Court of Justiciary and tried on the 13th of June.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 20th July | James Gilchrist | Murder of wife | Glasgow |
Dumfries, tried on the 29th of September, Hugh Dallas for forging a receipt. Reprieved 15. 3.09
1809 (PP – states that 5 out of 13 death sentences carried out)
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 16th of January.
Robert Stewart, Andrew Stewart & John M’Intyre for housebreaking. Andrew Stewart & M’Intyre reprieved 29. 2.09.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 22nd February | Robert Stewart | Housebreaking | Edinburgh |
Tried on the 25th of January – Rachel Wright for stealing a child. Reprieved 27. 2.09
Ayr, tried on the 19th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 26th May | Robert Smith & William Dornan | Housebreaking | Ayr |
Tried at Dumfries on the 24th of April. James Duffy for forgery. Reprieved 27. 6.09
Tried at Jedburgh on the 4th of September. Charles Mercer & Andrew Watherston for rape and murder.
Andrew Watherston was reprieved 7. 6.10.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 10th October | Charles Mercer | Rape | Jedburgh |
Glasgow, tried on the 28th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 8th November | John G M’Intosh & George Stewart | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh tried on the 11 of December – John Armstrong for housebreaking and theft.
And on the 18th of December, Alexander Campbell for robbery (sentenced 7/2/1810) Reprieved 7. 4.10
1810 (PP – states that 3 out of 5 death sentences carried out)
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 8th of January. James Kelly for theft. Reprieved 24. 2.10
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 17th January | John Armstrong | Housebreaking and theft | Edinburgh |
Ayr, tried on the 19th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 25th May | John M’Millan | Murder Barbara Mackinnel | Ayr |
Glasgow, tried on the 21st of April. George Miller for theft. Reprieved 30. 5.10
Tried at Aberdeen on the 24th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 15th June | Andrew Hossack | Robbery | Aberdeen |
Glasgow tried on the 12th of September. Peter Ogilvie for murder. Reprieved 21. 3.11
Inverness, tried on the 27th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 14th November | Alexander Gillan | Murder of Elspet Lamb (10) | Fochabers |
Hanged in chains after execution.
1811 (PP – states that 6 out of 8 death sentences carried out)
Tried at Edinburgh on the 3rd of January
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 27th March | Adam Lyall | Highway robbery | Edinburgh |
Tried at Inverary on the 18th of April. Thomas Stewart for horse theft. Reprieved 6. 6.11
Tried at Ayr on the 2nd of May. George Watson for horse theft.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 7th June | George Watson | Horse theft | Ayr |
Perth, tried on the 6th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 28th June | Hans Regelson (Danish seaman) | Rape | Perth |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 23rd of August. William Mitchell for theft and forgery. Reprieved 23. 9.11
Stirling, tried 9th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 11th October | Robert B Anderson & James Menzies | Housebreaking and theft | Stirling |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 19th of November.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 26th December | Thomas M’Nair | Robbery | Falkirk |
1812 (PP – states that 7 out of 12 death sentences were carried out)
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 13th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 21st February | Alexander Cain | Robbery | Stirling |
Tried on the 2nd of March, John Skelton for robbery. Reprieved 6. 4.12.
Tried on the 20th of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 22nd April | Hugh M’Intosh Hugh M’Donald & Neil Sutherland | Murder of Dugald Campbell Robbery Robbery | Edinburgh |
Glasgow, tried on the 27th of April. Moses M’Donald & Thomas Stewart for housebreaking.
Stewart was reprieved 12. 6.12.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 5th June | Moses M’Donald | Housebreaking | Greenock |
Inverness, tried on the 15th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 13th November | Robert Ferguson | Murder | Inverness |
Tried at Glasgow on the 6th of October : Peter Drummond for housebreaking and James Stewart &
William M’Arthur for breaking into a church. All reprieved 18.11.12.
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh on the 14th of December Joseph Gibson, executed in 1813.
1813 (PP – states that 9 out of 10 death sentences carried out)
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 13th January | Joseph Gibson | Highway robbery | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow 21st April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 26th May | James Ferguson | Robbery | Glasgow |
Tried at Ayr on the 26th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 11th June | James Sloan (Merry) | Forgery | Ayr |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 7th of June.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 14th July | John M’Donald & James Black | Highway robbery & murder of Mr. Muirhead | Edinburgh |
Inverness, tried 16th of September
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 29th October | Andrew Cullen | Murder | Inverness |
Tried at Perth on the 27th of September. Robert M’Laren for housebreaking (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 21.10.13
Tried at Glasgow on the 12th of October.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 17th November | William Muir & William Moodie | Robbery | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 19th of November.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th December | Christina Sinclair | Child murder | Edinburgh |
Christina Sinclair had been convicted of poisoning her 8 month old niece with arsenic in the parish of St Ola on Kirkwall.
She had to carried to the gallows on a chair and her body was afterwards sent for dissection. The hangman was John High of Edinburgh.
1814 (PP – say that 10 out of 12 death sentences were carried out)
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 31st of January : Nathaniel Blair for uttering. Committed suicide in prison.
Jedburgh, tried on the 8th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 12th May | John Gibson | Murder of his wife | Hawick |
Tried at Dumfries on the 13th of April, William Wright for horse theft. Reprieved 17. 5.14
Ayr, tried on the 18th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 27th May | John M’Manus & Robert Gibson | Murder | Ayr |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 4th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 10th August | James M’Dougal | Forgery | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 13th of September. John Thomson for assault/robbery. Reprieved 22.10.14
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 19th October | William Higgins & Thomas Harrold | Robbery | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried 19th December. Thomas Kelly and Henry O’Neill.
1815
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 25th January | Thomas Kelly & Henry O’Neill | Highway robbery | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh – tried on the 9th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 15th February | Thomas Pennycock & Alexander Knight | Highway robbery | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh – tried on the 16th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 17th February | John Worthington | Robbery | Ayr |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh – tried on the 20th of February.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th March | John Murdoch | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 27th of September. John Sherry and Robert White.
White was convicted of shop breaking and reprieved 1.10.15.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 1st November | . John Sherry | Highway robbery | Glasgow |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh on the 26th December – William Honeyman and John Smith for housebreaking.
Both reprieved 31.1.16.
1816
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 5th of February.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 13th March | David Thomson | Housebreaking and theft | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 11th of March. Susan Tinny for arson. Reprieved 30. 3.16
Tried at Aberdeen on the 16th of April. Helen Reid for murder. Reprieved 20. 5.16
Ayr, tried 25th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 31st May | William Evans | Forgery | Ayr |
Tried at Glasgow on the 30th of April. Charles Clephane and John Grindlay for housebreaking.
Both reprieved 4. 6.16
Tried at Aberdeen on the 16th of September. Andrew Donald for theft. Reprieved 23.10.16
Glasgow
Tried at Glasgow on the 25th of September. Robert Dougherty for assault and robbery. Reprieved 23.10.16
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 4th of November
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 11th December | John Black | Assault and robbery | Edinburgh |
1817
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, George Stanfield tried on the 6th of January for rape. Reprieved 20. 2.17
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 27th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 28th February | John Larg & James Mitchell | Housebreaking | Perth |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 22nd of April – John Robertson for housebreaking. Reprieved 27. 5.17
Tried at Glasgow on the 23rd of April. John Smith & William Pringle for theft. Reprieved 27. 5.17
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 28th May | William M’Kay | Utter forgery | Glasgow |
Tried at Inverness on the 29th of April – Barbara Mackay for housebreaking. Reprieved 30. 8.17
High Court of Justiciary tried on the 5th of September
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 10th October | Bernard M’Ilvogue, Hugh M’Ilvogue & Patrick M’Crystal | Housebreaking | Greenock |
High Court of Justiciary tried on the 8th of September. Janet Douglas for stealing a child. Reprieved 4.10.17
Tried at Ayr on the 11th of September – William Hamilton for theft. Reprieved 20.10.17.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 17th October | William Robertson, Joseph Cairns & Margaret Crossan | Robbery and theft Robbery and theft Arson | Ayr |
Perth, tried on the 17th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 31st October | George Wylie & Malcolm Clark | Housebreaking | Perth |
Glasgow, tried 23rd of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th October | FreebairnWhitehall William M’Kechnie James M’Cormick | Robbery and theft Housebreaking and theft Housebreaking and theft | Glasgow |
At the High Court of Justiciary on the 27th of January, Alexander Steel who been charged with Larg and Mitchell,
(see above) did not appear and was outlawed.
1818
At the High Court of Justiciary on the 25th of March. Patrick Main & George Aitcheson were convicted of
housebreaking and both reprieved 4. 3.18.
Aberdeen, tried on the 21st of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 5th June | James Ritchie | Sheep theft | Aberdeen |
Tried at Dumfries on the 27th of April, John Blackwood, for highway robbery. Reprieved 10. 6.18.
Glasgow, tried on the 28th of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 3rd June | William Baird & Walter Blair | Assault & robbery | Glasgow |
Aberdeen, tried on the 24th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 6th November | John Barnett | Theft | Aberdeen |
Tried at Glasgow on the 30th of September.
James Boyd for housebreaking, Mary Kennedy for forgery. Both reprieved 31.10.18, plus :
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 4th November | Matthew ClydesdaleSimon Ross | Murder Housebreaking | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 23rd of November.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 30th December | Robert Johnstone | Robbery | Edinburgh |
1819
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the1st of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 7th April | Alexander Robertson | Housebreaking & theft | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 8th of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 14th April | George Warden | Stole from letter | Edinburgh |
Tried at Dumfries on the 17th of April. Robert M’Kinlay & William Donald convicted of housebreaking and
John Killan for highway robbery. All reprieved 28. 5.19
Ayr, tried on the 23rd of April Joseph M’Neil (Boag) for housebreaking. Reprieved 28. 5.19, and :
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 28th May | John M’Neil (Boag) | Housebreaking | Ayr |
Tried at Perth on the 26th of April, James Fraser for housebreaking and theft. Reprieved 28. 5.19
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 14th of June. Peter Bowers for murder (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 10. 8.19.
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 14th of July
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th August | James Whiteford | Hamesucken | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 19th of July
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 27th August | Ralph Woodness | Housebreaking | Linlithgow |
Tried at Glasgow on the 21st of September. Robert Laird for uttering forgeries. (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 21.10.19.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 3rd November | Robert M’Kinlay, William Buchanan, Hunter Guthrie & Alexander Forbes | Housebreaking & theft | Glasgow |
Tried at Glasgow on the 21st of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 17th November | John Buchanan | Murder | Glasgow |
Aberdeen, tried on the 27th of September. Andrew Mathews for housebreaking. Reprieved 29.10.19.
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 29th of November Bryce Judd & Thomas Clapperton.
1820
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 5th January | Bryce Judd & Thomas Clapperton | Hamesucken | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 7th of February.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 10th March | William M’Gheer & Charles Britton | Stouthrief | Ayr |
Glasgow, tried on the 26th of April. Joseph Park & John M’Guize for housebreaking. Reprieved 12. 6.20
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 31st May | Richard Smith | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
Tried at Perth on the 6th of May, Alexander Reid for sheep theft (recommended to mercy) Reprieved 12. 6.20
And Alexander Thompson for forgery (recommended to mercy) Reprieved 5. 6.20.
Tried at High Court of Justiciary on the 19th of June, James Maccoul for robbery. Reprieved 21. 8.20.
Tried at High Court of Justiciary on the 12th of July, John Sharp for wounding. Reprieved 8. 8.20.
22 men were tried at Stirling on the 13th & 14th of July for High Treason.
All received the death sentence on the 4th of August. Hardie and Baird pleaded guilty at trial.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 8th September | Andrew Hardie & John Baird | High Treason | Stirling |
After hanging half an hour their bodies were cut down and placed in their coffins. Their heads were then cut off
and shown to the crowd. Andrew Hardie and John Baird (both weavers) were the leaders the “1820 Rising”,
a group of radicals campaigning for universal male suffrage, better working conditions and a Scottish parliament.
They had attempted to seize Carron Ironworks, near Falkirk but were captured by the British army at Bonnymuirtried.
They were all tried and convicted of high treason and sedition.
On the gallows, Hardie told the spectators, ‘I die a martyr to the cause of truth and injustice’.
The other 20 were reprieved, being : Thomas M’Culloch, Benjamin Moir, Alex Latimer, Alex Johnstone,
Andrew White, David Thomson, James Wright, William Clackson, Thomas Pink, Alex Hart, John Barr,
William Smith, Thomas M’Farlane, John Anderson, John M’Millan, Andrew Dawson, Allen Murchie,
Robert Gray, William Crawford & James Cleland.
Tried at Glasgow on the 20th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 30th August | James Wilson | High Treason | Glasgow |
Tried at Ayr on the 9th of August. Thomas M’Kay for high Treason. Reprieved 23. 8.20
Tried at Dumfries on the 11th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th October | Edward M’Rory | Assault and robbery | Dumfries |
Tried at Perth on the 27th of September. William Wighton for forgery. Respited for 3 weeks and reprieved 2.11.20.
27 September
Tried at Glasgow on the 6th of October.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 8th November | Daniel Grant, Peter Crosbie, John Connor & Thomas M’Colgan | Housebreaking & theft | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh. Tried on the 6th of November, John Dempsey & Robert Surrage
for murder. Surrage was reprieved 6.12.20.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 13th December | John Dempsey | Murder | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh. Tried on the 11th of December, Samuel Maxwell &
Alex. Hamilton for robbery. Hamilton was reprieved 15. 1.21.
1821
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 17th January | Samuel Maxwell | Robbery | Edinburgh |
Tried at Stirling on the 7th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 11th May | John Fleming | Forgery | Stirling |
Tried at Glasgow on the 11th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 16th May | William Swan | Forgery | Glasgow |
And William Muir for shop breaking. (recommended to mercy). Reprieved 12. 6.21
Aberdeen, tried on the 19th of April – William Grant for housebreaking (recommended to mercy). Reprieved 12. 6.21
Tried at Dumfries on the 30th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 6th June | James Gordon | Murder | Dumfries |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried 11th of June.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th July | David Haggart | Murder | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried 16th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 22nd August | John Rennie & William Sutherland | Housebreaking | Edinburgh |
Glasgow, tried on the 19th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 24th October | Malcolm M’Intyre, William Paterson & William Dyer | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
And Ann Wilson for uttering forgery. Reprieved 8.10.21
Tried at Perth on the 19th of September
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 7th December | Margaret Tindell | Murder husband | Montrose |
Ayr, tried on the 25th of September – Allan Carsewell for uttering forgery, (recommended to mercy).
Reprieved 8.10.21
Aberdeen, tried on the 3rd of October
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 16th November | George Thom | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried by the High Court of Admiralty on the 26th of November Peter Heaman and Francis Gautiez.
Executed 1822.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 19th of November – Donald Rankin for robbery.
Reprieved 7. 1.22
1822
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 9th January | Peter Heaman & Francis Gautiez | Murder & piracy | Leith |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 21st of January – Alexander Cunningham for housebreaking.
Reprieved 4. 2.22
Aberdeen, tried 15th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 31st May | William Gordon & Robert Mackintosh | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried at Glasgow on the 18th of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th May | William Campbell | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
| Wednesday 5th June | Thomas Donachy | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
And Donald Davidson for forgery and David Rankine for housebreaking. Both reprieved 15. 2.22
Jedburgh, tried on the 22nd of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 28th May | William Robertson | Housebreaking | Jedburgh |
Tried at Perth on the 13th of September – William Robertson for rape. Reprieved 25.11.22
Tried at Glasgow on the 16th of September James Campbell for housebreaking and Daniel Tucker for theft.
Both reprieved 31.10.22
Tried at Ayr on the 20th of September – James Burtnay for rape – case referred to the High Court of Justiciary
and heard on the 18th of November.
High Court of Justiciary
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 20th December | James Burtnay | Rape | Ayr |
1823
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 10th of January. James Robertson and
Robert Simpson for assault and robbery. Charles M’Laren, James M’Ewan and
Thomas Grierson for housebreaking. All reprieved 28. 1.23
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 20th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 26th February | William M’Intyre | Housebreaking | Edinburgh |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 15th of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 16th April | Mary M’Kinnon | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 18th of March. John Wright for housebreaking. Reprieved 17. 5.23
Tried at Dumfries on the 9th of April. John M’Kana, Joseph Richardson & William Richardson
for uttering forgeries. Richardson was reprieved 17. 5.23
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 14th May | John M’Kana & Joseph Richardson | Uttering forgeries | Dumfries |
Aberdeen, tried on the 10th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 23rd May | Thomas Donaldson, William Buchanan & William M’Leod | Stouthrief | Aberdeen |
Also Peter Scott for murder who was recommended to mercy and reprieved 17. 5.23
(stouthrief is a form robbery taking place in a dwelling house)
Tried at Ayr on the 18th of April – David Earl for uttering forgery (recommended to mercy). Reprieved 17. 5.23
Glasgow, tried on the 25th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 4th June | John M’Donald & James Wilson | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
Tried at Perth on the 6th of September, Walter Graham for uttering forgery. Reprieved 24.10.23
Tried at Jedburgh on the16th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th October | Robert Scott | Murder | Fan’s Farm |
Glasgow, tried on the 23rd of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th October | Francis Cain & George Laidlaw | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
Also Edward M’Caffir for highway robbery and William Johnston for housebreaking. Both reprieved.
And
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 12th November | David Wylie | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 3rd of November.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 10th December Friday 12th December | Thomas Black James Anderson & David Glen | Housebreaking Murder Murder | Edinburgh Ayr |
John Reid was convicted of housebreaking and was reprieved 9.12.23.
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 22nd of December – John Wilson & Duncan Fraser for housebreaking.
Tried by the same court on the 24th of December, John Douglas for highway robbery. Reprieved 5. 2.24
1824
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 28th January | John Wilson & Duncan Fraser | Housebreaking | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, tried on the 1st of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 7th April | Robert M’Leod | Murder | Edinburgh |
Stirling, tried on the 9th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 14th May | John Campbell | Housebreaking | Stirling |
Glasgow, tried 14th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 19th May | William M’Teague | Utter forgery | Glasgow |
Glasgow, tried 15th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 2nd June | John M’Creevie | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
Tried at Perth on the 20th of April, James Fairley & William Wood for housebreaking. Reprieved 29. 6.24
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 14th of June.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 21st July | William Devan | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 21st of June – Daniel Elphinstone for murder. Reprieved 24. 7.24
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 12th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 27th August | Alexander Martin | Stouthrief | Aberdeen |
Tried at Perth on the 17th of September – James Milne for stouthrief. Reprieved 22.12.24
Tried at Glasgow on the 30th of September – Thomas Davies for robbery. Reprieved 25.11.24
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 8th of November – William Tutton & John M’Kinley for housebreaking.
Reprieved 16.12.24
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 13th of December – James Campbell for housebreaking and theft.
Reprieved 4. 2.25
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 23rd of December – Alex Mackay (age 15) for housebreaking and theft.
Reprieved 21. 2.25
1825
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary at Dunfermline on the 24th of January – William Balleny and James Macneil.
Both reprieved 7.3.25.
Perth, tried on the 21st of April – Alexander Adams for assault and robbery. Reprieved 30. 5.25.
Tried at Dumfries on the 25th of April – Richard Lester and William Davis for housebreaking. Reprieved 30. 5.25.
Tried at Glasgow on the 28th of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 1st June | James Stevenson | Highway robbery | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 11th of July – James Mitchell and John Sharp for robbery (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 29. 7.25
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 27th of December – William Allen for murder. Executed 1826.
1826
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 10th February | William Allen | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 13th of February – William Pollock for the murder of his wife.
Committed suicide Monday 20th of March.
Tried at Stirling on the 20th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 26th May | John M’Graddy | Robbery | Stirling |
Tried at Perth on the 20th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 2nd June | David Balfour | Murder | Dundee |
Tried at Glasgow on the 26th of April – Thomas M’Kenna & Dennis Murphy for housebreaking. Reprieved 14. 6.26
And John Dollan for robbery.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 7th June | John Dollan | Robbery | Glasgow |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 27th of April – Charles Bowman for housebreaking. Reprieved 14. 6.26
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 26th of June.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 28th July | Peter Moffit | Murder | Stirling |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 13th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 16th August | Andrew Fullerton | Assault/robbery | Edinburgh |
Tried at Dumfries on the 14th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th October | James M’Manus | Assault/robbery | Dumfries |
Tried at Perth on the 20 September -Duncan Clark for the murder of his infant daughter. Reprieved 31.10.26
& Robert Lockey for housebreaking and theft. Reprieved 31.10.26
Tried at Glasgow on the 29th of September.
Edward Kelly, John White & Andrew Stewart for assault and robbery. Edward Kelly was reprieved 26.10.26.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 1st November | Edward Kelly Andrew Stewart | Assault/robberyRobbery | Glasgow |
1827
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 22nd of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 1st March | William Thomson | Highway robbery | Dalkeith |
James Thomson & John Fram were tried for the same offence but recommended to mercy and reprieved 21. 2.27
Tried at Ayr on the 19th of April -James Austin (Hopson) for uttering forgery. Reprieved 28. 5.27
Tried at Perth on the 14th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 16th June | Margaret Wishart | Murder | Forfar |
Glasgow, tried 4th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 6th June | John Kerr | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 9th & 12th of July
Peter Oliver for sheep theft. Reprieved 17. 7.27 and James Sim for theft/housebreaking. Reprieved 30. 7.27
Tried at Glasgow on the 11th of September – William Stewart for housebreaking. Reprieved 31.10.27
Tried at Dumfries on the 15th of September – Edward Caine & John Collester for horse theft. Reprieved 31.10.27
Tried at Aberdeen on the 28th of September
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 16th November | Malcolm Gillespie | Forgery | Aberdeen |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 10th of November
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 12th December | James Glenn | Murder | Glasgow |
1828
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 11th of February – Andrew Ewart for murder, (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 29. 2.28
Tried at Stirling on the 5th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 8th May | Francis Cockburn | Murder | Falkirk |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 9th of June – Peter Henderson for stealing from letter. Reprieved 7. 7.28.
Tried at Glasgow on the 15th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 22nd October | Thomas Connor & Bell M’Menemy | Assault/robbery | Glasgow |
Jedburgh, tried on the 19th of September – David Brown for assault. (recommended to mercy) Reprieved 5.11.28.
Glasgow, tried on the 23rd of December – John Tweddal for horse theft. Reprieved 19. 1.29.
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 24th of December – William Burke for multiple murder and body snatching.
Burke’s hanging was attended by a crowd estimated at between 32 and 40,000 people.
1829
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 28th January | William Burke | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 10th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 20th May | Edward Moore | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 13th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 19th August | John Stewart & Catherine Wright | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 17th of July – Jacob Laird for housebreaking and theft. Reprieved 31. 8.29
Tried at Glasgow on the 21st of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 29th October | John Craig & James Brown | Stouthrief | Paisley |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 23rd of November – William M’Kinlay & Alex. Spence Gordon for stouthrief.
Both recommended to mercy and reprieved 21.12.29.
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 30th of December William Adams for murder.
1830
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 6th January | William Adams | Robbery | Edinburgh |
High Court of Justiciary tried on the 8th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 17th March | Robert Edmond | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 7th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 12th May | William Porter & John Hill | Assault/robbery | Glasgow |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 12th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th August | John Thomson & David Dobbie | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 7th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 29th September | William M’Fest | Murder | Glasgow |
Perth, tried on the 8th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 30th September | John Henderson | Murder | Cupar |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 17th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 8th October | Catherine Davidson | Murder | Aberdeen |
1831
Tried at Glasgow on the 6th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 27th January | David Little | Stouthrief | Glasgow |
Tried at Glasgow on the 25th of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 16th May | James Campbell | Housebreaking | Glasgow |
Co-accused Thomas Fisher was reprieved 16. 5.31
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh on the 11th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 3rd August | George Gilchrist | Coach robbery | Edinburgh |
This execution is also reported to have taken place on Thursday the 11th of August in Glasgow.
Tried at Glasgow on the 12th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 6th October | James Bryce & Mary Steel | Murder | Glasgow |
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 20th October | William Heath | Bank robbery | Glasgow |
Tried at Inverness on the 26th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 24th October | Hector M’Leod | Murder | Inverness |
Tried at Jedburgh on the 28th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 19th October | James (Thomas) Rogers | Murder | Jedburgh |
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh. James Gow tried 11th of November, Thomas Beveridge tried 14th of November
& John M’Court tried on the 28th November.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 2nd December | James Gow & Thomas Beveridge | Murder | Edinburgh |
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 19th December | John M’Court | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 27th of December – William Lindsay for murder. Executed 1832.
Robert Stirrat also for murder. Reprieved 23. 1.32
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 28th of December, Samuel Waugh for murder. Executed 1832.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 31st of December, John Howison for murder. Executed 1832.
1832 (PP – 2 out of 6 death sentences carried out)
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th January | William Lindsay | Murder | Glasgow |
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 19th January | Samuel Waugh | Murder | Ayr |
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 21st January | John Howison | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 27th of September – George Matheson for murder (recommended to mercy).
Reprieved 11.10.32
Tried at Perth on the 3rd of October John Chisholm & Janet Stewart both for murder.
Janet Stewart reprieved 30.11.32
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 31st October | John Chisholm | Murder | Perth |
Tried at Glasgow on the 16th of October
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 7th November | George Doffey | Murder of wife | Glasgow |
Tried at Glasgow on the 26th of December. Henry Burnett for murder. Executed 1833. Robert Ward for robbery.
Reprieved 16. 1.33
1833 (PP – 3 out of 10 death sentences carried out)
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 1st February | Henry Burnett | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 21st of January – Michael M’Cabe for robbery. Reprieved 8. 2.33.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 14th of March – William Grieve for rape. Reprieved 9. 4.33.
Tried at Perth on the 17th of April – John Stewart for murder. Reprieved 12. 8.33.
Tried at Aberdeen on the 20th of April – William Denn for housebreaking. Reprieved 8. 5.33.
Tried at Inverness on the 27th of April – James Newlands for rape. Reprieved 18. 5.33.
Tried at Glasgow on the 20th of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 14th May | John Barclay Philip Cornie | Murder Rape | Glasgow |
Tried at Stirling on the 10th of September
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 2nd October | Robert Tennant | Murder | Stirling |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 11th of September -Christian King for the murder of a child, (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 5.10.33
Tried at Glasgow on the 26th of December. Hugh Kennedy for throwing vitriol (acid). Executed 1834
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 27th of December – John Robertson for “shooting at”. Reprieved 31.12.33
1834 (PP – 3 out of 6 death sentences carried out)
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 20th January | Hugh Kennedy | Throwing vitriol | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 27th of January – Mary Braid for the murder of her incestuous bastard child.
Reprieved 13. 2.34.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 12th of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 2nd April | Mannus Swinney | Assault/robbery | Greenlaw |
Tried at Inverness on the 5th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 31st May | William Noble | Murder | Elgin |
Tried at Glasgow on the 16th of September. John Boyd for murder and Richard Hill for hamesucken and rape.
Hill reprieved 22.10.34
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 23rd October | John Boyd | Murder | Greenock |
1835 (No PP report)
Tried at Perth on the 1st of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 30th May | Mark Devlin | Rape | Dundee |
Tried at Edinburgh on the 22nd of June.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 13th July | James Bell | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Edinburgh on the 13th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 3rd August | Elizabeth M’Neil (Banks) | Murder of husband by poisoning | Edinburgh |
Tried at Glasgow on the 8th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 29th September | George Campbell | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at Inverness on the 18th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 16th October | John Adams | Murder | Inverness |
Tried at Perth on the 28th of September – Alexander Marshall for the murder of his wife. Reprieved 7.11.35
1836
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh on the 14th of March
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 4th April | Charles Donaldson | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Inverness on the 16th of September – John Mackintosh for murder (recommended to mercy)
Reprieved 5.10.36.
1837
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 18th of March 18 March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 8th April | Alexander Miller | Murder | Stirling |
Tried at Glasgow on the 25th of September – William Pirrie and Ann Semple for murder. Semple reprieved 19.10.37
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 18th October | William Pirrie | Murder | Paisley |
1838 (PP – 1 out of 3 death sentences carried out)
Tried at Glasgow on the 30th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 21st May | Elizabeth Nicholson (Jeffrey) | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at Inverness on the 14th of April Malcolm Macleod for murder. Respited and then committed to an asylum.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 16th of July – Joseph Allison for murder. Reprieved 11. 8.38
1839 (No PP report)
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 25th of February.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 25th March | Arthur Wood | Murder | Dundee |
Tried at Glasgow on the 2nd of May – Alexander Johnston for murder. (recommended to mercy) Reprieved 23. 5.39
1840
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, tried on the 16th March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 16th April | James Wemyss | Murder | Edinburgh |
Glasgow, tried on the 6th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 27th May | Thomas Templeton | Murder wife | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 13th of May – James Dalrymple for murder. Reprieved 21. 5.40
1841 (PP – 2 out of 5 death sentences carried out)
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary at Inverness on the 7th of January – Alexander Macrae for rape. Reprieved 1. 2.41
Glasgow, tried on the 22nd of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 14th May | Denis Doolan & Patrick Reeding | Murder | Glasgow (Bishopbriggs) |
Doolan, Reeding & James Hickie were convicted of the murder of John Green. James Hickie was reprieved 14. 5.41
Tried at Perth in April – Catherine Symons for murder. Reprieved 14. 5.41
1842
No death sentences.
1843
Glasgow, tried on the 28th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 18th May | Charles M’Kay | Murder wife | Glasgow |
Tried at Stirling on the 13th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 4th October | Allen Mair | Murder | Stirling |
1844
High Court of Justiciary, tried 12th of March.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 3rd April | James Bryce | Murder | Edinburgh |
1845 and 1846
No death sentences.
1847 (PP – 1 out of 2 death sentences carried out)
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 20th of March – Elizabeth Yates for murder. Reprieved 11. 6.47
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 1st of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 5th October | Thomas Leith | Murder wife | Dundee |
1848 (PP – 2 out of 4 death sentences carried out)
Tried at Perth on the 22nd of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 19th May | James Robertson | Murder | Forfar |
Tried at Ayr on the 4th of October.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 26th October | James M’Wheelan | Murder and robbery | Ayr |
Tried at Glasgow on the 26th of September – John M’Lusky for murder. (recommended to mercy) Reprieved 12.10.48
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 4th of December – John Thompson for shooting at. Reprieved 2. 2.49
1849
Tried at Aberdeen on the 24th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 22nd May | James Burnett | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried at Perth on the 30th of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 29th May | John Kellocher | Murder | Perth |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 18th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 16th October | James Robb | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried at Jedburgh on the 4th October, John Wilson & John Brady for murder. John Brady was reprieved 14.10.49
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 25th October | John Wilson | Murder | Jedburgh |
1850
Tried at Glasgow on the 9th of January
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 31st January | Margaret Hamilton | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at Jedburgh on the 18th of April – William Deary for murder. Reprieved
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 26th of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 16th August | William Bennison | Murder | Edinburgh |
1851
Tried at Glasgow on the 2nd of October.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 24th October | Archibald Hare | Murder | Glasgow |
1852
Tried at Perth on the 28th of April – Charles Fancut for murder. Reprieved
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 14th of June
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 5th July | Michael Scanlan & Peter Scanlan | Murder | Cupar |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 23rd of December – George Christie for murder. Hanged 1853.
1853
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 13th January | George Christie | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried at Glasgow on the 5th of January – Margaret Bell for the murder of a child & James Scott for murder.
Both reprieved.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 21st of February.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 14th March | John Williams | Murder | Greenlaw |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 18th of May – James Magorran for murder. Reprieved
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 21st of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 11th August | Hans M’Farlane & Helen Blackwood | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 19th of December – William Cumming for murder. Hanged in 1854.
1854
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 25th January | William Cumming | Murder | Edinburgh |
Tried at Ayr on the 19th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 11th May | Alex Cunningham | Murder | Ayr |
1855
Tried at Glasgow on the 2nd of May – William Kelso (a.k.a. Alex. Stewart) for murder.
(Recommended to mercy)
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 23rd May | William Kelso | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at Perth on the 2nd of October – Elizabeth M’Intosh for the murder of her child. Respited
1856
Tried at Glasgow on the 1st of May – Robert Gordon for the murder of William Guthrie. Reprieved
Tried at Glasgow on the 2nd of October – James M’Manus for the murder of Henry Lavey. Reprieved
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 8th of November – Mary Wood for murder. Reprieved
1857
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary on the 12th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 2nd February | Peter M’Lean | Murder | Linlithgow |
Tried at Aberdeen on the 24th of September.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 21st October | John Booth | Murder | Aberdeen |
Tried at Glasgow on the 23rd of December – John Thomas for murder. Hanged 1858.
1858 and 1859
No death sentences
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Thursday 14th January | John Thomas | Murder | Paisley |
1860
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 13th of February – Edwin Salt for the murder of his wife. Reprieved
Tried at Perth on the 11th of April – Bridget Kiernan for murder. Reprieved.
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary, Stranraer on the 24th of December – Margaret Hannah
for the murder of her bastard. Reprieved.
Tried at Glasgow on the 28th of December. Patrick Lunnay & John M’Fadyen for murder.
John M’Fadyen was reprieved.
1861
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Saturday 18th January | Patrick Lunnay | Murder | Dumbarton |
Tried at Glasgow on the 24th of April Ellen Walsh for the murder of her bastard son. Reprieved
Tried at Perth on the 25th of April – Alexander Hutchison for murder. Reprieved
Tried at Glasgow on the 20th of September – David Fraser for the murder of Patrick M’Kenney. Reprieved
1862
Tried at Dumfries on the 8th April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 29th April | Mary Timney | Murder | Dumfries |
Tried at Glasgow on the 17th of September – Jessie M’Intosh for the murder of Jessie M’Pherson. Reprieved
1863
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh on the 9th of February – Alexander Milne for murder. Reprieved
1864
Tried at Glasgow on the 23rd of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Monday 16th May | John Reilly | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh on the 30th of May.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 21st June | George Bryce | Murder | Edinburgh |
1865
Tried at Aberdeen on the 18th of April – George Stephen for murder – reprieved
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 3rd of July.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Friday 28th July | Edward Pritchard | Murder | Glasgow |
Tried at Glasgow on the 27th of December – John Jamieson for murder – reprieved
1866
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 8th of January.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Wednesday 31st January | Andrew Brown | Murder | Montrose |
Tried at Perth on the 24th of April.
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 22nd May | Joseph Bell | Murder | Perth |
1867
Tried by the High Court of Justiciary on the 17th of December – Charles M’Donald for murder – reprieved
1868
Tried at Dumfries on the 21st of April
| Date of execution | Name | Crime | Place |
| Tuesday 12th May | Robert Smith | Murder | Dumfries |
1868 – 1899. (private executions)
At least 39 men and 3 women received the death sentence for murder during this period.
Of these 16 men and 1 woman were subsequently hanged.
| Trial date | Name | Age | Hanged at/reprieved | Crime/Victim |
| March 1870 | William Cunningham | Reprieved | Murder | |
| April 1870 | John Kelly | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 04/09/1870 | George Chalmers | 45 | Perth 04/10/1870 | Murder |
| Sept 1872 | John McGinlay | Reprieved | Murder | |
| April 1873 | Henry Reid | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 8/04/1873 | Thomas Scobbie | 36 | Reprieved 08/04/1873 | George Spalding |
| June 1874 | Martin Gilboy | Reprieved | Murder | |
| Sept 1874 | George McCallum | Reprieved 09/1874 | Murder | |
| Oct 1874 | George Neillan | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 9/10/1874 | Archibald Miller | Reprieved 09/10/1874 | Wife murder | |
| 14/09/1875 | Patrick Docherty | 19 | Glasgow 5/10/1875 | John Miller |
| 16/09/1875 | John Middleby | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 28/09/1875 | David Wardlaw | Dumbarton 19/10/1875 | Wife, Mary | |
| 10/05/1876 | Thomas Barr | 34 | Glasgow 31/05/1876 | Wife & mother in law |
| March 1878 | John Bell | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 31/05/1878 | Eugene Marie Chantrelle | 44 | Edinburgh 31/05/1878 | Wife, Elizabeth |
| 04/09/1878 | Isabella Thomson | Reprieved 20/09/1878 | Husband | |
| 07/09/1878 | William M’Donald | Cupar 03/10/1878 | Wife, Helen | |
| 28/12/1881 | Thomas Ferguson | Reprieved 28/12/1881 | Wife | |
| 26/04/1883 | Henry Mullen & Martin Scott | 50 34 | Glasgow 23/05/1883 (Duke Street prison) | Gamekeepers Robert Fyfe & David McCaughtrie |
| 19/02/1883 | James Smith | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 10/03/1884 | Robert Vickers & William Innes | Edinburgh 31/03/1884 | John Fortune & John McDairmid (gamekeepers) | |
| Oct 1888 | Mary Boyd | Reprieved ??/10/1888 | Murder | |
| 05/02/1889 | Hector M’Donald | Reprieved 05/02/1889 | Murder | |
| 18/02/1889 | Jessie King (f) | 27 | Edinburgh 11/03/1889 | Baby farmer |
| Feb 1889 | John Curran | Reprieved ??/02/1889 | Murder | |
| 25/03/1889 | William Bury | 29 | Dundee 24/04/1889 | Wife, Ellen |
| 09/11/1889 | John Laurie | 28 | Reprieved 04/11/1889 | Robert Rose |
| May 1890 | John Findley | Reprieved ??/05/1890 | Murder | |
| 11/08/1890 | John McDonald | Reprieved 11/08/1890 | Wife & lodger | |
| 02/09/1890 | Henry Devlin | 45 | Glasgow 23/09/1890 | Wife |
| 03/09/1890 | Thomas Gribbins | Reprieved 19/09/1890 | Landlord | |
| 29/12/1890 | Lorretto Polambo | Reprieved & deported | Murder | |
| 21/12/1891 | Frederick Storey | 54 | Greenock 11/01/1892 | Elizabeth Harmstone |
| 09/05/1892 | Alexander Robertson | Reprieved | Murder | |
| 28/12/1892 | David Forrester | Reprieved | Wife | |
| 28/12/1892 | William M’Keown | Glasgow 18/01/1893 | Elizabeth Connagher | |
| 17/05/1897 | George Paterson | 31 | Glasgow 07/06/1897 | Mary Ann McGuire |
| 21/02/1898 | John Heardman | 52 | Edinburgh 14/03/1898 | Jane Calder |
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