List of people executed for homosexuality in Europe


have varied over time and place, from expecting all males to engage in same-sex relationships, to casual integration, through acceptance, to seeing the practice as a minor sin, repressing it through law enforcement and judicial mechanisms, and to proscribing it under penalty of death. The following individuals received the death penalty for it.

Executed individuals

Belgium

France

Germany

After the Nazi takeover in 1933, the persecution of homosexuals in Germany became a priority of the Nazi police state. Between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 100,000 men were arrested as homosexuals; ten thousands of which were sentenced by courts. Most of these men served time in regular prisons, and between 5,000 and 6,000 were imprisoned in concentration camps. The death rate of these prisoners has been estimated at 60 percent, a higher rate than those of other prisoner groups. A smaller number of men were sentenced to death or killed at Nazi euthanasia centres. After the war, homosexuals were initially not counted as victims of Nazism because homosexuality continued to be illegal in Nazi Germany's successor states.

Ireland

Italy

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United Kingdom

The details of the accusation are often not given in contemporary sources, with euphemisms such as "unnatural offence" used. However, such terms were also used to describe bestiality, non-consensual acts, and crimes against minors. Due to this, sources discussing and listing capital offences for homosexuality, including the table below, may inadvertently include men executed for such offences.
NameDateNotes
Peter Chambers5 October 1609Catholic seminarian who converted to Protestantism, hanged in Exeter. He was convicted of sodomy with one of his choirboys at the Exeter assizes; he lived in Exeter Cathedral "to teach the singing boys" under Matthew Sutcliffe's sponsorship. Chambers protested at his execution that in Italy he was able to suppress his urges as a Catholic, but quickly relapsed in Protestantism.
Mervyn Tuchet16312nd Earl of Castlehaven, executed for sodomy with his male servants and procuring the rape of his wife.
William Plaine1646Founder of Guilford, Connecticut, executed in New Haven. Plaine, despite being married, had committed sodomy with "two persons in England" and had "corrupted a great part of the youth of Guilford".
Francis Dilly4 February 1679Non-white sailor on Jersey, executed as chief ringleader of a 4-man sodomite group at Port Royal. Other three members spared as they were white, "white men being scarce among us."
UnknownSeptember 1684Young man, hanged in Portsmouth; name not recorded.
James Hunt25 August 1743Hunt was a barge builder aged 37 and Collins was 57, a former weaver and soldier. They were accused of sodomy together in a toilet at Pepper Alley in Southwark, near London Bridge, which they each denied though their accounts differed. Their trial was at Surrey assizes 4 August and they were hanged at Kennington Common.
Thomas Collins25 August 1743Hunt was a barge builder aged 37 and Collins was 57, a former weaver and soldier. They were accused of sodomy together in a toilet at Pepper Alley in Southwark, near London Bridge, which they each denied though their accounts differed. Their trial was at Surrey assizes 4 August and they were hanged at Kennington Common.
Richard Arnold15 September 1753Arnold was around 60 and the landlord of the Lamb and Flag and Critchard was a footman aged around 20. They were convicted 31 August 1753 of felony and buggery for an act witnessed in the Swan Inn, Broad Street, Bristol. They were hanged together at St. Michael's Hill; they declined to implicate anyone else and Arnold was reported to have kissed Critchard's hand before the cart was pulled from under them.
William Critchard15 September 1753Arnold was around 60 and the landlord of the Lamb and Flag and Critchard was a footman aged around 20. They were convicted 31 August 1753 of felony and buggery for an act witnessed in the Swan Inn, Broad Street, Bristol. They were hanged together at St. Michael's Hill; they declined to implicate anyone else and Arnold was reported to have kissed Critchard's hand before the cart was pulled from under them.
Joseph Wright15 August 1755Trial at Coventry assizes. Hanged on Whitley Common. Wright admitted that he had been guilty of sodomy, but never with Grimes, while Grimes said that he had never committed any such offence. Wright was also found guilty of killing Mr. Warner of Winhall.
Thomas Grimes15 August 1755Trial at Coventry assizes. Hanged on Whitley Common. Wright admitted that he had been guilty of sodomy, but never with Grimes, while Grimes said that he had never committed any such offence. Wright was also found guilty of killing Mr. Warner of Winhall.
Richard Whatley23 March 1776Trial at Hampshire assizes 5 March. Whatley, aged 41 and also known as Richard Churchill, was convicted of sodomy against Benjamin Dupre, a coachman employed by Lovell Stanhope. He admitted that he had attempted the offence, but had not actually committed it.
Benjamin Loveday12 October 1781Trial at Bristol assizes. Hanged on St Michael's Hill. Loveday worked as a waiter before keeping a public house on Tower Street, Bristol while Burke was a midshipman, and they were accused of sexual activity together that they denied. Loveday was also accused by James Morgan. Joseph Giles and James Lane were also accused with Loveday, but were only sentenced for misdemeanours, and William Ward was acquitted. Loveday may have been running a molly house.
John Burke12 October 1781Trial at Bristol assizes. Hanged on St Michael's Hill. Loveday worked as a waiter before keeping a public house on Tower Street, Bristol while Burke was a midshipman, and they were accused of sexual activity together that they denied. Loveday was also accused by James Morgan. Joseph Giles and James Lane were also accused with Loveday, but were only sentenced for misdemeanours, and William Ward was acquitted. Loveday may have been running a molly house.
John Lad or Ladd 10 April 1786A Methodist preacher, he was tried at Surrey assizes on 22 March and taken from New Gaol to be hanged on Peckham Common.
Thomas Crispin17 August 1787Trial at Devon assizes 30 July. Hanged at Heavitree gallows near Exeter. Crispin, aged 45, was a potter from Pilton who had been living in a workhouse for seven years. His co-accused Hugh Gribble was reprieved owing to mental incapacity. Crispin acknowledged his guilt but showed no remorse.
John Southwell3 April 1790Trial at Suffolk assizes in Bury 17 March. Hanged at Rushmere Heath.
John Smith3 April 1790Trial at Suffolk assizes in Bury 17 March. Hanged at Rushmere Heath.
Henry Allen1797Captain of the sloop Rattler, hanged for sodomy on the ships' yardarm "despite his rank and excellent social connections."
William Powell30 August 1797Powell was a pauper at Melford workhouse. His trial was at Suffolk assizes on 9 August. He was hanged at Bury St Edmunds at the age of 70, but he did not confess.
Joseph Bird26 August 1803Trial at Warwickshire assizes, executed in Warwick. Bird was a Methodist, convicted on the testimony of John Privett. Privett withdrew his statement, only to then say this was because Bird's son bribed him.
Mathuselah Spalding aka Methuselah8 February 1804His trial was at the Old Bailey in November, where he was convicted of having "a venereal affair" with James Hankinson. He was hanged at Newgate. He was hanged with a forger, Ann Hurle - they were led out of Debtor's Door and rather than the New Drop they were hanged by a cart being driven from under them.
David Robertson13 August 1806Trial at the Old Bailey and executed at Newgate after attempting suicide. Robertson was 48 years old and said to keep a brothel at Charles Street, Covent Garden. He was convicted of an offence with 17-year-old George Foulston.
James Stockton aka Samuel Stockton13 September 1806Known as the Remarkable Trials, twenty seven men aged 17 to 84 from in and around Warrington, Manchester, and Liverpool were arrested in May 1806 for sodomy and nine were tried by John Borron and Richard Gwillym at the Lancaster assizes. Harry Cocks notes that the arrests came amid concerns post-1789 about Jacobins and other men meeting in private. Men of different social classes, they met among other places on Mondays and Fridays at Hitchin's house in Great Sankey, Cheshire, and were said by the press to be Freemasons and call each other "brother". Holland was a rich pawnbroker and there were rumours that members of the gentry were involved with the group, even members of Parliament. Those hanged were convicted on the testimonies of John Knight and Thomas Taylor, members of the group who gave evidence to avoid being hanged themselves. Rix also testified that sodomy was widespread and considered normal in Warrington, Manchester, and Liverpool, describing casual encounters in the street, but the magistrate refused a deal, while Hitchin denied the charges. Stockton, Holland and Powell were hanged at Lancaster castle on 13 September, and Hitchin and Rix later that month after they were further interrogated to find other conspirators. Joshua Newsom and George Ellis were found guilty of lesser offences and the rest were acquitted. The magistrates attempted to investigate further, but were stopped by the Home Office.
Joseph Holland13 September 1806Known as the Remarkable Trials, twenty seven men aged 17 to 84 from in and around Warrington, Manchester, and Liverpool were arrested in May 1806 for sodomy and nine were tried by John Borron and Richard Gwillym at the Lancaster assizes. Harry Cocks notes that the arrests came amid concerns post-1789 about Jacobins and other men meeting in private. Men of different social classes, they met among other places on Mondays and Fridays at Hitchin's house in Great Sankey, Cheshire, and were said by the press to be Freemasons and call each other "brother". Holland was a rich pawnbroker and there were rumours that members of the gentry were involved with the group, even members of Parliament. Those hanged were convicted on the testimonies of John Knight and Thomas Taylor, members of the group who gave evidence to avoid being hanged themselves. Rix also testified that sodomy was widespread and considered normal in Warrington, Manchester, and Liverpool, describing casual encounters in the street, but the magistrate refused a deal, while Hitchin denied the charges. Stockton, Holland and Powell were hanged at Lancaster castle on 13 September, and Hitchin and Rix later that month after they were further interrogated to find other conspirators. Joshua Newsom and George Ellis were found guilty of lesser offences and the rest were acquitted. The magistrates attempted to investigate further, but were stopped by the Home Office.
John Powell13 September 1806Known as the Remarkable Trials, twenty seven men aged 17 to 84 from in and around Warrington, Manchester, and Liverpool were arrested in May 1806 for sodomy and nine were tried by John Borron and Richard Gwillym at the Lancaster assizes. Harry Cocks notes that the arrests came amid concerns post-1789 about Jacobins and other men meeting in private. Men of different social classes, they met among other places on Mondays and Fridays at Hitchin's house in Great Sankey, Cheshire, and were said by the press to be Freemasons and call each other "brother". Holland was a rich pawnbroker and there were rumours that members of the gentry were involved with the group, even members of Parliament. Those hanged were convicted on the testimonies of John Knight and Thomas Taylor, members of the group who gave evidence to avoid being hanged themselves. Rix also testified that sodomy was widespread and considered normal in Warrington, Manchester, and Liverpool, describing casual encounters in the street, but the magistrate refused a deal, while Hitchin denied the charges. Stockton, Holland and Powell were hanged at Lancaster castle on 13 September, and Hitchin and Rix later that month after they were further interrogated to find other conspirators. Joshua Newsom and George Ellis were found guilty of lesser offences and the rest were acquitted. The magistrates attempted to investigate further, but were stopped by the Home Office.
Isaac Hitchin27 September 1806Part of the "Remarkable Trials"
Thomas Rix27 September 1806Part of the "Remarkable Trials"
William Billey31 March 1808Aged 45, he was accused of an offence against Thomas Douglas of Crayford and for attempted offences against others. His trial was at Kent Lent Assizes in Maidstone, and he was hanged on Penenden Heath. He had no family and the Kentish Gazette said he "appeared a perfect idiot".
Richard Neighbour24 November 1808Neighbour of Gresse Street, Rathbone Place, aged 26, was convicted of a crime against the body of Joshua Archer, aged 17 or 18, an apprentice to an engraver. Attempts were made to bribe Archer to leave the country. Neighbour was sentenced to hang at the Old Bailey in October 1808, but he poisoned himself with arsenic at Newgate the next month, less than a week before his execution was due.
James Bartlett4 April 1809Trial at Surrey Assizes, executed at Horsemonger Lane Gaol. He was buried at Limehouse and left £1,500 to his daughter.
Samuel Mounser31 August 1810Trial at the Chelmsford Summer Assizes, from Stanford-le-Hope
Thomas White7 March 1811 Ensign John Newball Hepburn, in his forties, and Drummer Thomas White, 16, tried at the Old Bailey and hanged in front of Newgate Prison, London
John Hepburn7 March 1811 Ensign John Newball Hepburn, in his forties, and Drummer Thomas White, 16, tried at the Old Bailey and hanged in front of Newgate Prison, London
David Thompson Myers4 May 1812Myers was a draper of Stamford, accused by Thomas Crow, an 18-year-old apprentice to a tailor, Mr. Horden of Stamford. Myers was acquitted in Lincolnshire due to Crow being suspected of lying, but he was then convicted at trial at Peterborough accused again by Crow of offences at Burghley Park. Myers was hanged at Fengate, Peterborough, the last man to be publicly executed in the city.
George Godfrey1 April 1813Godfrey was a butler in the house of Mr. Atkinson at Lee, who was indicted for "unnatural offences" with a footman, Henry Greenhurst, from May to December 1812. The latter was "unconscious of the heinous character of the offence" and told another servant, who informed Mr. Atkinson. Godfrey was hanged at Penenden Heath.
Henry Youens18 August 1814Trial at the Kent Assizes in Maidstone, hanged at Penenden Heath. Ottaway, 33, and Youens, 21, were soldiers.
John Ottaway 18 August 1814Trial at the Kent Assizes in Maidstone, hanged at Penenden Heath. Ottaway, 33, and Youens, 21, were soldiers.
Abraham Adams26 July 1815Trial at the Old Bailey, hanged aged 51 at Newgate alongside Elizabeth Fenning
John Charles1 February 1816Sailors on HMS Africaine under captain Edward Rodney, hanged at Portsmouth at 11 AM. Two other men, John Parsons and Joseph Hubbard, were whipped, with Hubbard receiving less lashes than Parsons due to medical concerns. Many reports of sodomy surfaced onboard the ship during its four-year tour of the East Indies, with Westerman being named as a participant from the start. For the first incident, Westerman was demoted from captain's servant boy to ordinary crewman, with further demotion for a later incident. More incidents surfaced until the ship returned to England in 1815, and an investigation was ordered by the Royal Navy. The initial 23 suspects identified in December 1815 was reduced to just four. The origins of the sodomy amongst the crew was determined to be Seraco and Treake, both Italians. Seraco was condemned with Charles, Treake was initially pardoned with Joseph Tall but re-condemned with Westerman.
Raphael Seraco1 February 1816Sailors on HMS Africaine under captain Edward Rodney, hanged at Portsmouth at 11 AM. Two other men, John Parsons and Joseph Hubbard, were whipped, with Hubbard receiving less lashes than Parsons due to medical concerns. Many reports of sodomy surfaced onboard the ship during its four-year tour of the East Indies, with Westerman being named as a participant from the start. For the first incident, Westerman was demoted from captain's servant boy to ordinary crewman, with further demotion for a later incident. More incidents surfaced until the ship returned to England in 1815, and an investigation was ordered by the Royal Navy. The initial 23 suspects identified in December 1815 was reduced to just four. The origins of the sodomy amongst the crew was determined to be Seraco and Treake, both Italians. Seraco was condemned with Charles, Treake was initially pardoned with Joseph Tall but re-condemned with Westerman.
Raphael Treake1 February 1816Sailors on HMS Africaine under captain Edward Rodney, hanged at Portsmouth at 11 AM. Two other men, John Parsons and Joseph Hubbard, were whipped, with Hubbard receiving less lashes than Parsons due to medical concerns. Many reports of sodomy surfaced onboard the ship during its four-year tour of the East Indies, with Westerman being named as a participant from the start. For the first incident, Westerman was demoted from captain's servant boy to ordinary crewman, with further demotion for a later incident. More incidents surfaced until the ship returned to England in 1815, and an investigation was ordered by the Royal Navy. The initial 23 suspects identified in December 1815 was reduced to just four. The origins of the sodomy amongst the crew was determined to be Seraco and Treake, both Italians. Seraco was condemned with Charles, Treake was initially pardoned with Joseph Tall but re-condemned with Westerman.
John Westerman1 February 1816Sailors on HMS Africaine under captain Edward Rodney, hanged at Portsmouth at 11 AM. Two other men, John Parsons and Joseph Hubbard, were whipped, with Hubbard receiving less lashes than Parsons due to medical concerns. Many reports of sodomy surfaced onboard the ship during its four-year tour of the East Indies, with Westerman being named as a participant from the start. For the first incident, Westerman was demoted from captain's servant boy to ordinary crewman, with further demotion for a later incident. More incidents surfaced until the ship returned to England in 1815, and an investigation was ordered by the Royal Navy. The initial 23 suspects identified in December 1815 was reduced to just four. The origins of the sodomy amongst the crew was determined to be Seraco and Treake, both Italians. Seraco was condemned with Charles, Treake was initially pardoned with Joseph Tall but re-condemned with Westerman.
George Siggins21 August 1817Trial at Kent Assizes in Maidstone for a crime in Chatham, executed on Penenden Heath
Joseph Charlton14 April 1819A watchmaker aged 26 who was tried at the Guildhall, Newcastle and hanged at Morpeth. His funeral was attended by 2000 people.
John Markham29 December 1819A pauper aged 26 who was an inmate at St. Giles's workhouse, his hanging was heard by John Cam Hobhouse, who was being held at Newgate. Hobhouse noted in his diary, "Tis dreadful hanging a man for this practice".
Thomas Foster3 May 1820Trial at Kent Assizes and hanged at Penenden Heath. Convicted of an offence with John Whyneard at the Isle of Sheppey.
John Holland25 November 1822Aged 42 and 32 respectively, tried at the Old Bailey and executed at Newgate.
William King25 November 1822Aged 42 and 32 respectively, tried at the Old Bailey and executed at Newgate.
William Arden21 March 1823Respectively a gentleman and half-pay officer aged 35, a valet to the Duke of Newcastle aged 36, and a cabinet maker aged 35, they were tried at Lincoln Assizes by Mr. Justice Park and convicted on the evidence of a 19-year-old apprentice draper named Henry Hackett. A love letter from Hackett to Candler had been addressed to the Duke to save on postage: the Duke received and read the letter and had Hackett confronted, upon which he also implicated Doughty and Arden, who had associated with each other in Grantham in summer 1822. They were part of a group of up to 36 men led by Arden, who went on hunger strike in jail. The convicted men were hanged at Lincoln Castle.
Benjamin Candler21 March 1823Respectively a gentleman and half-pay officer aged 35, a valet to the Duke of Newcastle aged 36, and a cabinet maker aged 35, they were tried at Lincoln Assizes by Mr. Justice Park and convicted on the evidence of a 19-year-old apprentice draper named Henry Hackett. A love letter from Hackett to Candler had been addressed to the Duke to save on postage: the Duke received and read the letter and had Hackett confronted, upon which he also implicated Doughty and Arden, who had associated with each other in Grantham in summer 1822. They were part of a group of up to 36 men led by Arden, who went on hunger strike in jail. The convicted men were hanged at Lincoln Castle.
John Doughty21 March 1823Respectively a gentleman and half-pay officer aged 35, a valet to the Duke of Newcastle aged 36, and a cabinet maker aged 35, they were tried at Lincoln Assizes by Mr. Justice Park and convicted on the evidence of a 19-year-old apprentice draper named Henry Hackett. A love letter from Hackett to Candler had been addressed to the Duke to save on postage: the Duke received and read the letter and had Hackett confronted, upon which he also implicated Doughty and Arden, who had associated with each other in Grantham in summer 1822. They were part of a group of up to 36 men led by Arden, who went on hunger strike in jail. The convicted men were hanged at Lincoln Castle.
Charles Clutton13 August 1824Aged 25, he was charged in June 1824 with Charles Paul, aged 17, for an offence at Weedon Bec barracks in May 1823 - they were both privates in the 53rd regiment. He was sentenced by Mr. Justice Holroyd and hanged at the New Drop, Northamptonshire
Joseph Bennett20 April 1825Aged about 30 and from Witney and aged 22 and from Radstock, respectively, they were hanged at Ilchester Gaol in Somerset
George Maggs20 April 1825Aged about 30 and from Witney and aged 22 and from Radstock, respectively, they were hanged at Ilchester Gaol in Somerset
Captain Henry Nicholl 12 August 1833A 50-year-old veteran of the Peninsular War, Nicholl was hanged at Horsemonger Lane Gaol in Southwark, London. He was renounced by his prominent family, and his body was handed over to a hospital for dissection as they refused to accept it for burial.
George Cropper26 December 1833A 26-year-old soldier, he was convicted of an offence at Deptford with a fellow soldier, Charles Pike, who was aged 18, but Pike was acquitted. Cropper was hanged at New Sessions House in Maidstone, the same day as a rapist.
John Spershott 22 August 1835A labourer aged 19, he was convicted of an offence with 8-year-old George Howard at Mid Lavant and hanged at Horsham, Surrey, alongside a burglar. "Spershott's hanging was perhaps the last occasion at which was performed the folk ritual of the hangman passing the dead man's hands over the neck and bosoms of young women as a cure for glandular enlargements."
John Smith27 November 1835The last two men to be hanged for homosexuality in England
John Pratt27 November 1835The last two men to be hanged for homosexuality in England