TODAY IN HISTORY: The Last Guillotine in France (Sept. 10, 1977)

On this day in 1791, the French National Assembly sought a more humane method of execution, leading to the invention of one of history’s most infamous devices: the guillotine. Previous methods, including brutal punishments like “breaking on the wheel,” were deemed excessively inhumane, sparking a search for an alternative. Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a physician and Assembly member, proposed a swift, efficient device with a steel blade to decapitate the condemned in a single, precise stroke.

The guillotine became France’s official execution method, symbolizing equality in death during the Revolution and beyond. Remaining in use until the country abolished the death penalty in 1981, its last recorded use was in 1977, when Hamida Djandoubi, convicted of murder, was executed. This grim symbol of justice and reform reflects France’s turbulent journey through political and cultural change, from revolutionary ideals to the modern era.