William Palmer
English doctor found guilty of murder (1824-1856) · Doctors · Died at 31
William Palmer, also known as the Rugeley Poisoner or the Prince of Poisoners, was an English doctor and murderer. A court convicted him for the 1855 murder of his friend John Cook, whom he had poisoned with strychnine.
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Photos 8
Residence of William Palmer, at Rugeley. Illustrated London News, 24 May 1856.
Dr. William Palmer's cigar case with cigar, made in France, 1840-1856
Palmer's diary recording the death of Cook
The Talbot Arms, where John Parsons Cook died on 21 November 1855.
Mr. William Stevens, John Parsons Cook's stepfather
Double page feature on the trial of William Palmer in the Illustrated Times, 27 May 1856.
Lithograph of a death mask of William PalmerAbout this person
He was also suspected of poisoning several other people including his brother and his mother-in-law, as well as four of his children. Palmer made large sums of money from the deaths of his wife and brother after collecting on life insurance, and by defrauding his wealthy mother.
