February 12, 1903 - Maurice Meyssonnier
The Meyssonnier name had been tied to state execution across several centuries by the time Maurice took up the role in French Algeria, making him less an anomaly than a continuation of an inherited institution. He carried out a significant number of executions during the colonial period, including the last guillotining of a woman in Algeria in 1948, and passed the role to his son Fernand, who would serve as the final executioner in French Algeria. His presence on this site reflects not personal criminality but a position at the intersection of state violence, colonial justice, and a profession that France itself would eventually abolish.
From Wikipedia
Maurice Meyssonnier was a Chief executioner in French Algeria. Meyssonnier family is linked to executioners as far back as the 16th century.
Meyssonnier performed, among many others, the last guillotining of a woman (Madeleine Mouton in 1948) in Algeria, which was the second-to-last female guillotining in France and her colonies.
He was succeeded by his son, Fernand Meyssonnier, who from young age served his father as assistant and eventually became the last executioner in French Algeria, even if formally never appointed, as Maurice retained his position but ceased to carry out the death sentences.
A communist by his political belief, Meyssonnier in addition to his executioner duties was also a bar owner.
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