March 3, 1819 - Edward Rulloff
Rulloff spent decades moving between genuine intellectual pursuits — linguistics, law, medicine — and a parallel life of theft, violence, and murder, the two tracks running simultaneously rather than in sequence. His facility for reinvention allowed him to operate across multiple states and identities, making him difficult to track and prosecute during his lifetime. The breadth of his legitimate credentials made his criminal history all the more disorienting to contemporaries, and his case drew serious attention from figures like Mark Twain, who wrote about him in the press.
From Wikipedia
John Edward Howard Rulloff (also known as Ruloff, Rulofson, or Rulloffson, as well as several aliases; 1819/1820 – May 18, 1871) was a Canadian-born American medical doctor, lawyer, schoolmaster, photographer, inventor, carpet designer, phrenologist, and philologist, in addition to a career criminal and serial killer. This dichotomy was exemplified in the title of a 1871 biography, The Man of Two Lives!. He was also known as "The Genius Killer". Rulloff's brain is said to be among the largest on record.
Further reading
- Rogue Scholar
A compelling account of a 19th-century fugitive and self-styled intellectual whose life raised questions as relevant today as in the Victorian era.
View on Amazon → - All That Is Wicked
Crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson chronicles the case of serial killer Edward Rulloff, whose remarkable intellect led investigators to study his brain in hopes of unlocking the secrets of the criminal mind.
View on Amazon → - Edward H. Rulloff
A dramatic retelling of the life and legacy of Edward Rulloff, whose restless spirit seemed to haunt the community even after his execution.
View on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, Evil Birthdays earns from qualifying purchases.
- Last updated on .