Person    | Male  Born 16/5/1877  Died 17/12/1947

Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Categories: Law, Medicine

Forensic pathologist. Born Leamington Spa, son of a manufacturing chemist. He was a pioneer in the science of determining the cause of death by examining a corpse and gave evidence in many cases which attracted publicity and made him quite famous. His cases include: Crippen and the 'brides in the bath'. He was also key to 'Operation Mincemeat'.

However he was clearly not a 'team-player', refusing to share his methods, train others or submit to peer review. He rather steam-rollered his views through the courts and concerns about possible miscarriages of justice have been raised recently.

Of his three sons one died in the Blitz while working as a doctor at St Thomas's Hospital and one died of tuberculosis in 1945. Failing health and these two deaths are thought have contributed to Spilsbury's suicide by gas in his laboratory at University College.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Commemorated ati

Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Sir Bernard Spilsbury, 1877 - 1947, forensic pathologist, lived here, 1912 - ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Pilot Officer Anthony Sainte Croix Rose, BA

Pilot Officer Anthony Sainte Croix Rose, BA

Anthony Sainte Croix Rose was born on 17 February 1910 in Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, the son of Harcourt George Sainte Croix Rose (1883-1955) and Florence Norah Rose née Deane (1884-1970). The bi...

Person, Armed Forces, Law

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Mayor's and City of London Courts

Mayor's and City of London Courts

A county court in the City of London, which is the successor to courts pre-dating the County Courts Act of 1846, which introduced the modern system of county courts. Under the Courts Act of 1971, i...

Place, Law

1 memorial
Herman Wallace

Herman Wallace

In 1972 a prison guard was murdered in Angola Prison, Louisiana, USA, where Herman Wallace, Robert King, and Albert Woodfox were prisoners.  Wallace and Woodfox were convicted of the murder; King w...

Person, Law, Race Issues, Tragedy, USA

4 memorials
First Baron Aberconway

First Baron Aberconway

Politician. Born Charles Benjamin Bright McLaren in Edinburgh. He began his career in journalism before turning to the law. Elected as an M.P. in 1880. Member of the Privy Council. Became Baron Abe...

Person, Industry, Journalism / Publishing, Law, Politics & Administration, Scotland, Wales

1 memorial
transportation to Australia

transportation to Australia

One of the (many) supposed origins of the word 'pom' for an Englishman, is that convicts were branded with the initials of 'Prisoner of Millbank'.

Event, Law, Transport, Australia

5 memorials

Previously viewed

Lucien Pissarro - Epping

Lucien Pissarro - Epping

CM16, Hemnall Street, 44

A custom-made plaque, but nonetheless a very attractive one.

2 subjects commemorated
Matthew Spender

Matthew Spender

Son of Stephen Spender.  Born London.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Councillor G. Croot

Councillor G. Croot

Member of the Electric Lighting and Tramways Committee, West Ham, 1905. This Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health, West Ham, 1909 gives more of his name, referring to 'G. Croot'.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Cunard / Broadwest Film Studio

Cunard / Broadwest Film Studio

E17, Wood Street, 247 - 251

The Cunard / Broadwest Film Studio, 1914 - 1921. On this site stood one of the pioneering film studios established in the early days of B...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Argyll Rooms Concert Hall

Argyll Rooms Concert Hall

The 'Argyll Rooms' venue opened in 1806.  A new building was designed, as part of the Regent Street redevelopment, by John Nash himself, to provide a concert hall, other public rooms and shop space...

Building, Music / songs

1 memorial