On August 6, 1890, Auburn Prison in New York became the site of a macabre milestone in American legal history when William Kemmler became the first person executed by electric chair. This new method of capital punishment was intended to be more humane and scientific than hanging, reflecting the late 19th century's faith in technological progress and electrical innovation. Kemmler, who had been convicted of murdering his common-law wife with an axe, became an unwitting participant in what supporters claimed would be a swift and painless method of execution.
The introduction of the electric chair represented more than just a change in execution methods—it symbolized America's embrace of modernity and scientific advancement in all aspects of society, including criminal justice. However, the reality of Kemmler's execution would prove far more complicated and disturbing than its advocates had promised.
The Science Behind the Chair
The electric chair was developed as part of a campaign to find a more humane alternative to hanging, which was often botched and could result in prolonged suffering. Thomas Edison, despite his later denials, was involved in promoting alternating current (AC) electricity for executions as part of his broader "War of Currents" against his rival George Westinghouse. The chair was designed by Harold Brown and Arthur Kennelly, who believed that a powerful electrical shock could cause instantaneous death.
New York State had commissioned extensive testing on animals to determine the proper voltage and method of application. The chair itself was constructed of oak and featured leather straps to secure the condemned person, with electrodes designed to be placed on the head and back to ensure the electrical current would pass through vital organs.
A Botched Beginning
Kemmler's execution became a horrific spectacle that contradicted all promises of quick, painless death. The first electrical charge, lasting 17 seconds, appeared to kill him, but witnesses soon noticed he was still breathing. A second, longer charge had to be applied, during which smoke rose from his head and the smell of burning flesh filled the execution chamber. The entire process took approximately eight minutes, causing one witness to declare it "an awful spectacle, far worse than hanging."
Controversy and Consequences
The gruesome nature of Kemmler's execution sparked immediate debate about whether the electric chair truly represented progress in humane execution methods. Newspapers across the country reported the disturbing details, with some calling it a form of torture rather than justice. Despite this inauspicious beginning, New York and other states continued to use the electric chair, refining the technique and equipment over subsequent decades.
The electric chair would go on to be used in hundreds of executions across multiple states for over a century, though it gradually fell out of favor as lethal injection became the preferred method. Kemmler's execution marked the beginning of ongoing debates about the role of technology in capital punishment and what constitutes humane methods of state-sanctioned death.