Edwin F. Davis (May 28, 1846 – May 26, 1923), of Corning, Steuben County, New York, was the first "state electrical engineer” ( executioner) for the state of New York. In 1890, Davis finalized many features of the first electric chair used. [1] Davis performed 240 executions between 1890 and 1914, [1] including the first person to be executed by electric chair, William Kemmler, and the first woman, Martha M. Place, as well as William McKinley's assassin, Leon F. Czolgosz.
Davis held a patent on certain features of the electric chair. He received U.S. Patent No. 587,649 for his "Electrocution-Chair" on August 3, 1897.
He died two days before his 77th birthday, and is buried in Barnard Cemetery in Corning, New York. [2]
See also
References
- ^ a b Banner, Stuart (March 2003). The Death Penalty: An American History. Harvard University Press. pp. 194–195. ISBN 0-674-01083-3.
- ^ "E.F. DAVIS, INVENTOR OF DEATH CHAIR, DIES; State Electrical for 25 Years, He Presided at Over 300 Electro- cutions at Sing Sing". The New York Times. 27 May 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
Edwin F. Davis (May 28, 1846 – May 26, 1923), of Corning, Steuben County, New York, was the first "state electrical engineer” ( executioner) for the state of New York. In 1890, Davis finalized many features of the first electric chair used. [1] Davis performed 240 executions between 1890 and 1914, [1] including the first person to be executed by electric chair, William Kemmler, and the first woman, Martha M. Place, as well as William McKinley's assassin, Leon F. Czolgosz.
Davis held a patent on certain features of the electric chair. He received U.S. Patent No. 587,649 for his "Electrocution-Chair" on August 3, 1897.
He died two days before his 77th birthday, and is buried in Barnard Cemetery in Corning, New York. [2]
See also
References
- ^ a b Banner, Stuart (March 2003). The Death Penalty: An American History. Harvard University Press. pp. 194–195. ISBN 0-674-01083-3.
- ^ "E.F. DAVIS, INVENTOR OF DEATH CHAIR, DIES; State Electrical for 25 Years, He Presided at Over 300 Electro- cutions at Sing Sing". The New York Times. 27 May 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2022.