John Ellis was a British executioner for 23 years at the beginning of the 20th century. He was a man who took the responsibility of his position very seriously and hoped to "despatch" the condemned person with as little fuss and pain to the individual concerned. He was a very professional man. An insight into his behaviour and methods can be read in the book "Diary of a Hangman" in which he describes his methods and recalls the final moments of some of the people he executed.

Ellis committed suicide in 1931. He was said by his friends to have been unable to recover from the ordeal of executing Edith Thompson, and that the Thompson execution had also precipitated his retirement.

See also

• List of executioners
• Hanging
• Capital punishment