William Burke (1792-1829)

Life
1792-1829; b. Urney, Co. Tyrone; labourer; worked on Mediston Canal, Scotland; living in Edinburgh lodging-house kept by William Hare, native of Derry, in 1827; sold body of old pensioner to Dr Robert Knox for dissection, 29 Nov. 1827; lured wayfarers and killed them by suffocation when drunk; murdered 15, aided by their wives; Hare turned King’s evidence and Burke was hanged, 28 Jan 1829; Knox was exonerated by Burke. ODNB DIB