- Monday 20 October 2008
- 7.00pm-8.30pm
- Lecturers: Prof Sir Colin Berry
London is an epicentre of medical advancement, from Edward Jenner's pioneering work on vaccination to the world's first heart and lung transplant. But London is also a hotbed of disease and demise and this event will take a look at the notorious murders and strange deaths in the capital. 'Murder in Mayfair' coincides with the Wellcome Collection's 'Medical London' month in October.
London has a rich and gruesome history of untimely demises. From the recent past we have the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, only a few minutes' walk from the Royal Institution, who was killed by a radioactive teapot. 18 years earlier, Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was dispatched with a poison tipped umbrella by Waterloo Bridge.
From further back we have the notorious case of Dr Crippen who was the first criminal to be captured with the aid of wireless communication, for the murder of his wife. Other historical homicides in the big smoke include the acid bath murders of John George Haigh, serial killer Dennis Nilsen and the gangland butchery of the Kray twins.
Come along and take a journey through the grizzly past of the capital.
Tickets cost £8, £6 concessions and £4 for RI Members.