Who Were the Victims of Jack the Ripper?
In 1888, under the cover of darkness, Jack the Ripper murdered at least five women in Whitechapel, then disappeared. The mystery as to the Ripper’s identity has fascinated armchair sleuths for generations, but, until recently, little research or interest had been shown in the women he killed. For over a century they have been treated as nothing more than numbers, their humanity largely ignored when it was deemed irrelevant to the hunt for their killer. But taking the time to learn about their lives is not just fascinating, but important too. These women had families, friends, hopes, and dreams. They had complex and diverse backgrounds, heralding from disparate worlds, but ending up in the worst place in Europe at the worst possible time. They were human beings, who deserve to be remembered and respected. Here we will delve into the lives of the "canonical five" victims: Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly and reveal the stories of their lives, not just their tragic ends.
Who was Jack the Ripper's First Victim?
Mary Ann Nichols, known by many as “Polly”, was born in London in 1845, the daughter of a blacksmith. She led a tough life, facing poverty and battling alcoholism from an early age. In 1864 she married William Nichols, a printer, and the couple had five children, before the marriage fell apart. She claimed he had been unfaithful, and he cited her alcoholism as the problem. They separated in 1880, and Polly lost contact with her children. She worked as a domestic servant briefly, but was dismissed for stealing. With nowhere else to turn, she took to sleeping rough, occasionally in Trafalgar Square, relying on workhouses and lodging houses when she could afford them. Despite these hardships, her friends described her as kind and cheerful, and always keen to sing and dance. She was also religious, and carried a prayer book with her, only turning to sex work when there were no other options available to her. Polly’s life was cut short on 31st August 1888, when she was murdered on Buck’s Row.
Who was Jack the Ripper's Second Victim?
Annie Chapman, or Dark Annie as she was known in reference to her dark hair, was born in Paddington on 25th September 1841. She was the daughter of a soldier, and had a comfortable upbringing, spending much of her youth in Windsor where her father was posted. In 1869 she married John Chapman, a local coachman, with whom she had three children. However, the marriage was marred by alcoholism, illness, and the death of two of their children. They separated in 1884 and Annie moved to the East End, where she lived on the streets, staying in in various lodging houses when she had the money, relying on charity and occasional sex work to get by. She was gentle and quiet, standing at just 5” tall and liked to crochet and make artificial flowers. On 8th September 1888, one week after the murder of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman’s body was found on Hanbury Street, Spitalfields. She was 47 years old. Coroner’s noted at her autopsy that she had contracted tuberculosis which would have killed her in a matter of months.
Who was Jack the Ripper's Third Victim?
Elizabeth Stride, or Long Liz as she was called due to her height, was born on 27th November 1843 in a rural village in Sweden. At 16 years old she gave birth to a stillborn daughter, and was sent to a workhouse. By 1865 she had moved to the city of Gothenburg and been registered by the police as a prostitute. The following year she decided to move to London, where she married a ship’s carpenter called John Stride, 22 years her senior, and opened a coffee shop, which failed and within a few years the couple had separated. Elizabeth moved to the East End, where she lived in various lodging houses, making up fantastical stories about her past to entertain her friends. She took any job she could find, from seamstress, to cleaner, and turning to sex work when necessary. In the final years of her life, she lodged with Michael Kidney, a labourer who lived on Devonshire Road, but the relationship was tumultuous and violent and in 1887 she filed an assault charge against him. Elizabeth Stride was murdered on September 30, 1888, in Berner Street, Whitechapel, at the age of 45.
Who was Jack the Ripper's Fourth Victim?
Catherine Eddowes, was born on 14th April 1842 in Wolverhampton. She was the daughter of a tinplate worker. The family moved to London when she was young and, aged 15, she was moved into a workhouse in Bermondsey following the deaths of both her parents, before moving back to the Midlands. At the age of 20 she met Thomas Conway, a soldier and had three children with him. They never married, but she did have the letters TC tattooed on her arm. The family moved to Westminster, where she became a heavy drinker. Thomas was a teetotaller and after years of arguments, they separated in 1880. Catherine, or Kate, as her friend’s called her, moved to the East End, where she found casual work as a cleaner and a seamstress. In her later years, her heavy drinking often got into trouble with the law, but her friends described her as clever and witty, and, unlike many of the women around her, she could read and write. Catherine Eddowes was murdered on September 30, 1888, in Mitre Square, Aldgate, just hours after Elizabeth Stride.
Who was Jack the Ripper's Final Victim?
Mary Jane Kelly, often called Ginger, was born in 1863 in Limerick, Ireland. The family moved to Wales in 1869, and she married a coal miner named Davies in 1879. The marriage ended in tragedy when he was killed in a mining accident a few years later. With no financial support, it is believed it was at this point that she first turned to sex work. In 1881, Mary moved to London and found work as a high-class escort in the West End, regularly travelling to Paris with wealthy clients. When opportunities disappeared, she moved to the East End, where she lived with Joseph Barnett, a fish porter. Her friends described her as beautiful and charming, with a love for singing and playing the piano, but life in London had been hard for her, and she longed for nothing more than to return to Ireland. Mary Jane Kelly was murdered on 9th November 1888, in her home on Miller's Court, Dorset Street. She was just 25 years old.
It is vital that we remember these women as more than just names in the story of a Victorian murderer. They were individuals with unique stories, dreams, and struggles. May they rest in peace, forever remembered as more than just victims.
If you would like to know more about these women and the world they lived in, consider joining our daily Jack the Ripper Tour, or alternatively, check out all the Free Walking Tours we offer here.