Beatrice Lang
The electric chair has been a method of execution in the United States since the late 19th century. Its invention was inspired by stories in newspapers about people being killed by high-voltage arc lighting. The first person to be executed by electric chair was William Kemmler in 1890. Since then, many people have witnessed executions by electric chair, including the controversial execution of 14-year-old George Stinney in 1944, which was overturned in 2014. While the electric chair is no longer used as the sole method of execution in any state, it still evokes a sense of shock value, with some death row inmates in Tennessee choosing it over lethal injection as recently as 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first use | 6 August 1890 |
| First person executed | William Kemmler |
| Execution didn't go to plan | Kemmler was pronounced dead but was still breathing |
| Second execution attempt | Kemmler was electrocuted again, this time with 2,000 volts, which killed him |
| Public execution of an elephant | Topsy the elephant was electrocuted in Coney Island on 4 January 1903 |
| Silent film produced by Edison Studios | "Execution of Czolgosz with Panorama of Auburn Prison" (1901) |
| Youngest person executed | 14-year-old George Stinney (1944) |
| First known survivor of the electric chair | Willie Francis (1946) |
| Botched electrocutions | Three highly controversial botched electrocutions in Florida in the 1990s |
| Last state to eradicate the use of electric chairs | Nebraska (2008) |
| Inmates' choice of execution method | Inmates increasingly choosing the electric chair over lethal injection |
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What You'll Learn
Public executions attracted large audiences
Public executions by electric chair attracted large audiences for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the electric chair was seen as a novel and more humane method of execution compared to previous methods such as hanging. The spread of arc lighting in the late 1870s to early 1880s sparked public fascination with the deadly effects of high voltages, which likely contributed to the interest in witnessing an execution by electric chair. Additionally, the electric chair was promoted by Thomas Edison as a way to showcase the dangers of alternating currents, which were in competition with his preferred direct currents. Edison even electrocuted animals and an elephant in public demonstrations to support his cause.
The first electric chair execution took place in New York in 1890, when William Kemmler was put to death. The execution was not without complications, as Kemmler was initially only rendered unconscious by the electric current and had to be electrocuted a second time to be killed. Despite this, the electric chair gained popularity as a method of execution, with other states quickly adopting it. The electric chair continued to be a spectacle, with people witnessing the executions of notable individuals such as Leon Czolgosz, who assassinated President William McKinley.
The electric chair also became a sideshow attraction, with Nikola Tesla's invention of the Tesla coil in 1891 further perpetuating the use of electricity in executions. The "War of the Currents" between Edison and George Westinghouse's companies added to the public interest in electric chair executions. Despite the eventual shift towards lethal injection as the primary method of execution, the electric chair still holds a place in the public imagination. In recent years, some inmates have chosen the electric chair over lethal injection, citing fears of the discomfort associated with the latter.
Public executions by electric chair were thus a combination of morbid fascination, public spectacle, and technical innovation. The electric chair's association with the "War of the Currents" and its use in sideshows further contributed to its popularity as a form of capital punishment. While the method has been largely replaced, it continues to hold a place in the public consciousness, attracting attention even in modern times.
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The electric chair was considered more humane than hanging
The electric chair was conceived in 1881 as a more humane method of execution than hanging. It was developed over the next decade, with New York building the first electric chair in 1888 and executing William Kemmler in 1890.
The idea for the electric chair came about following a series of botched hangings in the United States, which sparked criticism of that form of capital punishment and the death penalty in general. In 1886, New York State governor David B. Hill set up a death penalty commission to investigate a more humane means of execution. The commission surveyed experts, with a slight majority recommending hanging over electrocution, and a few recommending the abolition of capital punishment.
The electric chair was designed by George Fell, who positioned the electrodes at the head and the middle of the back. Harold Brown provided technical assistance, and the chair was powered by a Westinghouse AC generator. The electric chair was originally thought to cause death through cerebral damage, but it was scientifically established in 1899 that death primarily results from ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest.
The electric chair became a symbol of capital punishment in the United States, although its use has declined with the adoption of lethal injection, which is perceived as more humane. The electric chair was declared cruel and unusual punishment by the Nebraska Supreme Court in 2008, and it is no longer used as the sole method of execution in any state.
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The chair was powered by alternating currents, which were new
The electric chair was first introduced in New York in 1888 as a more humane method of execution than hanging. The chair was powered by alternating currents, which were new at the time and would change the way electricity was transmitted.
The use of alternating currents in the electric chair was the result of a "War of the Currents" between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Tesla invented the Tesla coil in 1891, a device that relied on alternating currents and could transmit electricity over long distances. Edison, however, believed that direct currents were superior and tried to persuade the public to avoid alternating currents.
Despite Edison's efforts, alternating currents gained popularity and were used in many applications, including the electric chair. The first person to be executed by the electric chair was William Kemmler in 1890. The execution did not go as planned, as Kemmler was only rendered unconscious by the first jolt of electricity and had to be electrocuted a second time with a higher voltage to be killed.
The electric chair continued to be used in America for decades, with the last state to rely solely on this method of execution being Nebraska, which eradicated its use in 2008. The electric chair has been declared cruel and unusual punishment by the Nebraska Supreme Court and is no longer used as the sole method of execution in any state.
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Inmates still choose the electric chair over lethal injection
The electric chair has a long and controversial history in the United States. The first state to introduce execution by electric chair was New York in 1889, with the first execution taking place in 1890. The electric chair became the most common form of capital punishment in the US until the 1890s, when it was replaced by hanging.
While the electric chair has been largely replaced by lethal injection as the primary method of execution in the US, several inmates in Tennessee have chosen electrocution over lethal injection. Inmates and their advocates argue that lethal injection could lead to a prolonged and painful death, with prisoners appearing to suffer during the execution. They fear being frozen in place and feeling intense discomfort while the drugs take effect. Lethal injection has been deemed "'cruel and unusual punishment'" by some courts, and there have been several botched executions.
In contrast, inmates who choose the electric chair may believe that it is a quicker and less painful method of execution. However, electrocution is not without its own controversies, with several botched electrocutions in the past. In addition, the electric chair has been declared unconstitutional by some courts, and it has not been used in any state since 2013.
Despite the risks and controversies associated with both methods, inmates in Tennessee who were sentenced before 1999 are allowed to choose between lethal injection and electrocution. This has led to a recent increase in the number of inmates opting for the electric chair, with five inmates choosing electrocution since 2018.
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The electric chair is now considered cruel and unusual punishment
The electric chair was first introduced as a method of execution in New York in 1888, with the first execution taking place in 1890. The electric chair was seen as a more humane method of execution than hanging, but over time, it has come to be viewed as a form of cruel and unusual punishment.
The process of execution by electric chair involves the prisoner being strapped to a chair with belts across their chest, groin, legs, and arms. Electrodes are attached to the prisoner's head and leg, and a blindfold is placed over their eyes. A jolt of electricity, ranging from 500 to 2000 volts, is then delivered for about 30 seconds. If the prisoner's heart is still beating, another jolt is applied until they are pronounced dead. This process has been known to result in violent movement of the limbs, leading to dislocation or fractures.
The use of the electric chair has been controversial, with several botched executions drawing attention to its potential for causing unnecessary suffering. In 1946, Willie Francis survived his execution due to improper setup, and in the 1990s, three highly controversial botched electrocutions in Florida further highlighted the issues with this method of execution. In one case, the prisoner's face and head caught fire during the execution. These incidents have led to increased scrutiny of the electric chair as a form of punishment.
In recent years, the electric chair has fallen out of favour as a method of execution, with lethal injection becoming the primary method in many states. However, in some states, inmates still have the choice between lethal injection and electrocution. Despite this, the electric chair is now largely considered a relic of the past, with its use declining due to concerns over its effectiveness and humanity. In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court declared the electric chair to be "cruel and unusual punishment", marking the end of its use in that state. This decision reflected a growing consensus that the electric chair inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering, violating constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
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Frequently asked questions
People watched the electric chair as a form of public entertainment, with the first person executed by this method being William Kemmler in 1890.
Kemmler was initially subjected to 1,000 volts of electricity for 17 seconds, after which he was pronounced dead. However, he was still breathing, having only been rendered unconscious by the electricity. A second attempt was made, this time with 2,000 volts, which ultimately killed him.
In 1944, 14-year-old George Stinney became the youngest person ever executed by electric chair. His conviction was overturned in 2014, with a judge ruling that Stinney had not received a fair trial. In 1946, Willie Francis became the first person known to have survived the electric chair, only to be executed again in 1947.
Inmates in Tennessee have chosen the electric chair over lethal injection due to fears of feeling intense discomfort while the drugs take effect. Lethal injection involves a series of injections, one to sedate the inmate, followed by others that paralyze them and stop their heart.
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