Ruth Ellis

Ruth Ellis
Born	Ruth Neilson (1926-10-09)9 October 1926 Rhyl, Denbighshire, Wales
Died	13 July 1955(1955-07-13) (aged 28) HMP Holloway, London, England
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Resting place	HMP Holloway; later reburied in St Mary's Church, Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. 51°40′04.9″N 0°36′53.2″W / 51.668028°N 0.614778°W / 51.668028; -0.614778
Occupation	Nightclub hostess
Known for	Last woman executed in the UK
Criminal status	Executed
Spouse	George Johnston Ellis (1950–1955)
Children	2
Conviction(s)	Murder
Criminal penalty	Death by hanging

Ruth Ellis (née Neilson; 9 October 1926 – 13 July 1955) was a Welsh nightclub hostess and convicted murderer who became the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom following the fatal shooting of her lover, David Blakely.

In her teens, Ellis had entered the world of nightclub hostessing, which led to a chaotic life that included various relationships with men. One of these men was Blakely, a racing driver engaged to another woman. On Easter Sunday, 10 April 1955, Ellis shot Blakely dead outside The Magdala public house in Hampstead, London. She was immediately arrested by an off-duty policeman. At her trial in June 1955, Ellis was found guilty of premeditated murder and was sentenced to death; on 13 July she was hanged at Holloway Prison.