Video: '6th August 1890: William Kemmler becomes the first person to be executed by electric chair'

(Wednesday, August 6, 1890, 6:38 a.m. local time) — The first legal execution by electric chair in the world was carried out today as William Kemmler, 30, of Buffalo, New York, was put to death at Auburn Prison in New York for the ax murder of his common law wife, Tillie Ziegler. Continue reading First execution by electric chair carried out at Auburn Prison in New York 130 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 6 1890) →