History's Devils
Who were the worst people in history?
HISTORY'S DEVILS is a weekly deep-dive podcast that investigates the world's most infamous historical figures. Each episode explores the life, actions, and impact of a notorious person from history, examining the facts behind their reputation and the events that shaped their legacy.
Hosted by Professor James Crossland, HISTORY'S DEVILS covers dictators, tyrants, war criminals, cult leaders, revolutionaries, con-artists, conspiracy theorists and other controversial historical figures, combining deep research with compelling storytelling to reveal the darker side of human history.
Perfect for fans of dark history, history documentaries, historical biographies, and in-depth explorations of the people who changed the world for better - or for worse.
All the devils are here. And we are ready to tell their stories.
History's Devils
Quack, Conspirator, Assassin? The Scandalous Life of Francis Tumblety, Pt.1
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this HISTORY’S DEVILS two-parter, James Crossland is joined by Jayne Friend to explore the shocking true story of Francis Tumblety - one of the most disturbing conmen of the 19th century. A self-proclaimed doctor, master grifter, and notorious charlatan, Tumblety’s dark life intersects with some of history’s most infamous crimes, including the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the terror of the 1888 Jack the Ripper murders.
From bizarre medical scams and criminal activity to violent assault, illegal abortions and disturbing obsessions, this episode dives deep into the sinister underworld of Victorian era London and Gilded Age America.
If you’re interested in true crime, Victorian history, serial killers, and real-life villains, this is a story you won’t want to miss.
Further Reading
Timothy B. Riordan, The Prince of Quacks: The Notorious Life of Dr Francis Tumblety, Charlatan and Jack the Ripper Suspect (2009)
Donald Rumbelow, The Complete Jack the Ripper (2016)
www.casebook.org – the best website BY FAR on the Jack the Ripper case
Chapters
Episode 1
00:00 Introduction to History's Devils
00:56 The Notorious Francis Tumblety
02:51 Tumblety's Early Life and Background
05:57 Tumblety's Quackery and Medical Practices
11:50 The Rise of Tumblety's Fame
17:57 Tumblety's Criminal Activities and Legal Troubles
23:49 The Civil War and Tumblety's Role
29:45 Conclusion and Reflection on Tumblety's Legacy
30:53 Divisions in the Medical Fraternity During the Civil War
32:09 The Reality of War: Medical Challenges and Quackery
34:45 The Rise of Francis Tumblety: A War Grifter
38:55 Tumblety's Exploits: From Medical Claims to Scams
43:47 The Fallout: Arrests and Accusations
50:46 The Confusion of Identity: Tumblety and the Assassination Plot
54:49 The Wilderness Years: Tumblety's Decline and Arrests
59:58 The Ripper Connection: Tumblety's Final Chapter
Episode 2
00:00 Introduction to History's Devils
00:28 Tumblety's Involvement in Jack the Ripper Case
01:44 Cultural Representations of Jack the Ripper
03:57 The Press and Public Perception
06:02 Tumblety's Reputation and Suspicions
07:40 Evidence Linking Tumblety to the Murders
11:12 Tumblety's Medical Quackery and Theories
14:20 Psychological Aspects of Tumblety's Crimes
17:31 Exploring Tumblety's Identity and Relationships
19:51 The Profile of a Suspect
21:48 The Emergence of Tumblety
24:57 The Arrest and Speculation
27:36 The Evidence and Eyewitness Accounts
33:01 The Life After the Ripper
36:39 The Final Years and Legacy
Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween"
Follow HISTORY's DEVILS
On Instagram @historysdevils
https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/
On Substack
https://jamescrossland.substack.com/
Follow JAMES CROSSLAND
On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social
Tag HISTORY's DEVILS
@historysdevils
#HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #Podcast #History #DarkHistory #HistoricalBiography #TrueHistory #HistoryDocumentary #Deepdive #Storytelling
History's Devils is a history podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures.
History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of:
Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart
The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism...
