Otis Singleton
The electric chair has been used as a method of execution in the United States since 1890, when William Kemmler was executed. The process involves delivering a jolt of electricity of between 500 and 2000 volts to the condemned person, causing death. The exact voltage and duration of the electric current can vary, with some sources stating that the first shock is between 2,000 and 2,500 volts, and the second shock is between 500 and 1,500 volts. The electric chair has been the subject of controversy, with critics disputing its effectiveness in inducing immediate unconsciousness and arguing over the most humane method of execution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First electric chair execution | 6 August 1890 |
| First person executed | William Kemmler |
| First voltage applied | 700 volts |
| First voltage duration | 17 seconds |
| Second voltage applied | 1,030 volts |
| Second voltage duration | 2 minutes |
| Autopsy findings | Electrode burned through to the spine |
| Current US voltage | 2,000 volts |
| First shock intention | Cause immediate unconsciousness, ventricular fibrillation, and eventual cardiac arrest |
| First shock voltage range | 2,000–2,500 volts |
| Second shock intention | Cause lethal damage to vital organs |
| Second shock voltage range | 500–1,500 volts |
| Cycles | Changes in voltage and duration |
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What You'll Learn
The first electric chair execution
The electric chair was adopted as a means of execution in the late 19th century as an alternative to hanging. The first person to be executed by electric chair was William Kemmler, on August 6, 1890.
Kemmler was convicted of murdering his common-law wife, Matilda "Tillie" Ziegler, with an axe a year before his execution. He was sentenced to death by the state of New York, which had instituted death by electrocution in 1888, the first such law in the world.
Kemmler's execution was not without controversy. His lawyers appealed, arguing that electrocution was a cruel and unusual punishment. The leading developers of electrical power, including George Westinghouse, did not want their product to be used in this manner. However, the appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, which found that death by electrocution did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
On the morning of his execution, Kemmler woke up at 5:00 a.m., dressed in a suit, necktie, and white shirt, and had breakfast and prayed. The top of his head was shaved, and at 6:38 a.m., he entered the execution room. He was composed and did not scream, cry, or resist. He was strapped into the chair, and a charge of approximately 700 volts was delivered for 17 seconds before the current failed. Witnesses reported smelling burnt clothing and charred flesh, but Kemmler was still alive. A second shock of 1,030 volts was applied for about two minutes, after which smoke was observed coming from Kemmler's head, and he was pronounced dead.
Today, US prisons use an alternating current of 2000 volts for executions by electric chair. The first, more powerful electric shock (between 2,000 and 2,500 volts) is intended to cause immediate unconsciousness, ventricular fibrillation, and eventual cardiac arrest. The second, less powerful electric shock (500–1,500 volts) is meant to cause lethal damage to the vital organs.
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The process
Once the inmate is prepared, the execution team withdraws to an observation room, and the warden signals the executioner to initiate the electrical current. The first electric shock, typically between 500 and 2000 volts, is intended to cause immediate unconsciousness, ventricular fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. This initial shock lasts for about 30 seconds.
After the first shock, the inmate is assessed for any signs of life. If they are still alive, a second shock of 500 to 1500 volts is administered to cause lethal damage to vital organs. This cycle of shocks may be repeated until death is confirmed.
Finally, after death is pronounced, prison officials wait for the body to cool down before removing it for autopsy. This process, though intended to be humane, has been subject to criticism and has evolved over time to become more "efficient" in causing death.
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The voltage
In 1888, a committee recommended 3,000 volts, but it is unclear whether this was ever used. Today, US prisons use an alternating current of 2,000 volts. However, the voltage can vary, and the executioner may change the voltage and duration of the current to cause lethal damage to internal organs. The first, more powerful electric shock (between 2,000 and 2,500 volts) is intended to cause immediate unconsciousness, ventricular fibrillation, and eventual cardiac arrest. The second, less powerful electric shock (500–1,500 volts) is intended to cause lethal damage to vital organs.
In popular culture, performers have often pretended to undergo much higher voltages, with some claiming to have 30,000 volts passed through their bodies.
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The electric chair as entertainment
The electric chair has been a source of fascination for many, with its promise of a seemingly painless and virtually instantaneous death. Since its first use in 1890, it has been the most frequently used method of capital punishment.
The electric chair was conceived as a more humane alternative to hanging, with its proponents claiming that it induces immediate unconsciousness, followed by ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. The process involves two shocks of electricity, the first being more powerful, ranging from 2000 to 2500 volts, and the second, less powerful shock ranging from 500 to 1500 volts.
However, critics dispute the notion of its reliability in inducing immediate unconsciousness, and the electric chair has been the subject of botched executions and gruesome incidents, such as the Tafero and Medina incidents, where the use of a synthetic sponge caused it to catch fire during the execution. The electric chair has also been a source of entertainment, with performers like Walford Bodie, also known as the "Electrical Wizard Of The North", incorporating it into their acts, often claiming that they had a tolerance for electricity due to being struck by lightning or similar stories.
The electric chair has also made its way into popular culture, with the actual Sing Sing Prison chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky", being used in the 1983 movie "Daniel". The use of the electric chair in popular media and entertainment, along with its presence as a sideshow staple at places like Coney Island, showcases the enduring fascination and morbid curiosity it evokes.
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Alternatives to the electric chair
The electric chair has been used as a method of capital punishment since 1890, when William Kemmler was the first person to be electrocuted. The electric chair is a device that delivers a series of electric shocks to the condemned person, causing ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, and lethal damage to the vital organs.
While the electric chair was initially considered a more humane alternative to hanging, other methods of execution have since been developed that are considered more humane, including lethal injection, which is now the primary method of execution in many states.
In the United States, the following alternative methods of execution are authorized in certain states:
- Lethal injection: This is the most widely-used method of execution and is considered a calmer and less violent alternative to electrocution. However, there have been controversies surrounding lethal injection protocols, with some states now allowing alternative methods if lethal injection cannot be performed due to resistance from drug manufacturers.
- Firing squad: This method has been authorized in Idaho as the primary method of execution.
- Lethal gas: This method has been used in Louisiana.
- Other methods: In certain states, if the authorized methods of execution are ruled unconstitutional, other constitutional methods may be used. For example, in 2025, Louisiana executed a prisoner using nitrogen gas.
While the electric chair is no longer the primary method of execution in any state, it remains an option in several states, including Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Inmates in these states may choose between the electric chair and lethal injection, with the latter being the default method.
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Frequently asked questions
The electric chair uses a voltage of between 500 and 2000 volts.
No, the first person to be executed by electric chair, William Kemmler, received a charge of 700 volts for 17 seconds, followed by a second charge of 1,030 volts for 2 minutes.
Yes, in 1891, Kemmler was still breathing after the first charge of 1400 volts for 17 seconds. He was then electrocuted with 2000 volts, which killed him.
Yes, the electric chair is still used in the US, with the most recent execution occurring in 2020.
The prisoner is strapped to a chair, shaved, and electrodes are placed on their scalp and leg. A salt solution is used to moisten the electrodes, and the prisoner is blindfolded. The executioner then pulls a handle to connect the power supply, delivering a jolt of between 500 and 2000 volts for about 30 seconds.
