Bio

Thomas Griffiths Wainewright was born in October 1794 in Chiswick, a town in London, England. He came from a wealthy family and was part of the London literary community. Unfortunately, he faced hardships early in life. His father, who might have been a lawyer, died when Thomas was young. His mother passed away during childbirth. After the deaths of his parents, Thomas lived with his grandfather, Ralph Griffiths, who was well-known as the editor of The Monthly Review.

Growing up in an influential environment allowed Thomas access to many notable figures in literature. After his grandfather's death in 1803, he lived with his uncle, George Griffiths, and continued to receive a good education. Thomas benefited from the financial support of a distant relative, Dr. Charles Burney. He attended Greenwich Academy and later joined the military at eighteen, serving as an officer.

In 1819, Thomas began his writing career. He wrote for several publications, including The Literary Pocket-Book and the influential London Magazine. He published articles and art criticisms under various pen names, including Janus Weathercock. He also became friends with well-known writers like Charles Lamb, who praised Thomas's work.

In 1821, at the age of twenty-one, Thomas married Eliza Frances Ward. However, his spending habits put him in significant debt. He began to engage in forgery, which led to further trouble. By 1830, Thomas's financial issues worsened. He took out several life insurance policies on family members, including his sister-in-law, who eventually died under questionable circumstances.

Thomas moved to France to escape his problems, but he was arrested on suspicion of wrongdoing after authorities found strychnine in his possession. He spent six months in prison before returning to England in 1837, where he was soon arrested for forgery. He was ultimately sentenced to transportation for life to Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania.

Thomas Griffiths Wainewright died of apoplexy in the Hobart Town hospital on August 17, 1847, and is buried in an unknown grave.

Murder Story

Thomas Griffiths Wainewright committed several murders between 1828 and 1837. His victims included his grandfather, his mother-in-law, his sister-in-law, and a man who was the father of a girl he knew. He used strychnine to poison them.

Wainewright insured the life of his sister-in-law for a large sum of money before she died in December 1830. The insurance companies refused to pay out, citing misrepresentation. After this, he fled to France where he continued to engage in questionable activities.

In France, he insured the father of a girl he was acquainted with for £3,000. Shortly after, that man also died, and Wainewright collected the insurance payout.

He returned to London in 1837 but was arrested on charges of forgery related to a stock transfer that occurred thirteen years earlier. During his arrest, authorities found strychnine in his possession, and he was suspected of the murders. He was ultimately charged only with forgery.

Wainewright was sentenced to transportation for life in Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania. He died of apoplexy in a hospital there on August 17, 1847.