Maurice Meyssonnier
Encyclopedia
Maurice Meyssonnier was a Chief executioner
in French Algeria
. Meyssonnier family is linked to executioners as far back as 16th Century.
Meyssonnier performed, among many others, the last guillotining
of a woman (Madeleine Mouton in 1948) in Algeria, which was the second-to-last female guillotining in France and her colonies.
He was succeeded by his son, Fernand Meyssonnier
, who from young age served his father as assistant and eventually became the last executioner in French Algieria, even if formally never appointed, as Maurice retained his position but ceased to carry out the death sentences.
A communist
by his political belief, Meyssonnier in addition to his executioner duties was also a bar owner.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2278215.stm, http://www.expatica.com/fr/essentials_moving_to/country_facts/last-rights-for-the-last-executioner-875_12630.html
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
in French Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
. Meyssonnier family is linked to executioners as far back as 16th Century.
Meyssonnier performed, among many others, the last guillotining
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
of a woman (Madeleine Mouton in 1948) in Algeria, which was the second-to-last female guillotining in France and her colonies.
He was succeeded by his son, Fernand Meyssonnier
Fernand Meyssonnier
Fernand Meyssonnier was an executioner in the last years of French Algeria. He acted as an executioner from 1947 to 1961 and executed more than 200....
, who from young age served his father as assistant and eventually became the last executioner in French Algieria, even if formally never appointed, as Maurice retained his position but ceased to carry out the death sentences.
A communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
by his political belief, Meyssonnier in addition to his executioner duties was also a bar owner.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2278215.stm, http://www.expatica.com/fr/essentials_moving_to/country_facts/last-rights-for-the-last-executioner-875_12630.html