Born to Sarah Palmer on August 6th 1824, William Palmer innocently entered the world. Years later, he would also enter the history books- a guilty man.

William was born opposite St.Augustines church, in a detached red-brick building known as 'The Yard', and now called 'Church Croft'.

Left: Palmers Birthplace today

Educated in the nearby Grammar School, William took an apprenticeship at a wholesale chemist in Liverpool, but was dismissed from this job for stealing, and after his return to Rugeley, was dismissed again from his subsequent job as a local surgeons apprentice, this time for 'unruly behaviour'.

He then became employed as a medical student at Stafford Infirmary, later qualifying as a surgeon at St Bartholemews Hospital in London.

Now Dr.Palmer, he married an Abbots Bromley girl named Annie Thornton, and they rented at house in Market Square, opposite the Talbot Arms Public House (now 'The Shrew') where he opened his own surgery.

Below: The Palmers House in Market Street

After a year of marriage, his wife gave birth to a son, also William. Annies mother suffered from ill health, so she moved in with the couple. Unfortunately, just twelve days later she was dead.

Annie gave birth to four more children, but not one of them survived. On Sept 29th, in 1854, Annie also died, aged just 27.

Local gossip turned on Palmer, when exactly nine months after his wife's death, their housemaid, Eliza Tharm, gave birth to a child. Palmer was now accruing major debts due to his gambling addiction and extravagant spending habits. During this period he arranged an abortion for his ladyfriend Jane Burgess, and he also paid for the upkeep of the illegitimate child of a Jane Mumford, that sadly later died after a visit to his surgery.

It was not until he had murdered his gambling and drinking partner, in order to collect his winnings, that the walls began to close in on this evil and ruthless character.

John Parsons Cook had rented a room in the Talbot Arms (now The Shrew), He had won £1700 at the races, which was due to be collected from London the following Monday.On returning to Rugeley from the races, he became ill, and William collected the winnings. John Parsons was dead by 12.45am.
The Shrew ,(formally the 'Talbot Arms) where Palmer poisoned one of his victims..

A post-mortem was arranged after Cooks family became suspicious. William Palmer was then arrested and charged with murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. Despite his plea, he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

William Palmer was publicly hung in front of a crowd of over 30,000 outside Stafford jail at 8am on June 14th, 1856.

Since then, 14 deaths have been attributed to the 'Prince Of Poisoners', including his wife, Annie, her mother, and his four children, Henry, Frank, John and Elizabeth.