Who Is John Haigh? Age, Biography and Wiki
John Haigh was born on July 24, 1909. He was an English serial killer, most infamous for his gruesome crimes in the 1940s. Haigh murdered multiple individuals, mainly for financial gain, after which he notably disposed of their bodies using acid to eliminate evidence. His devious methods and the chilling nature of his crimes led him to be dubbed the "Acid Bath Murderer." Unfortunately, he was apprehended in 1949, and his crimes continue to fascinate those interested in criminal psychology and history. As of 2025, he is remembered as a notorious figure in British criminal history, his legacy reflecting both infamy and horror.
| Occupation | Serial Killers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 24, 1909 |
| Age | 40 Years |
| Birth Place | Stamford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 10 August, 1949 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
John Haigh's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: Approximately 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Weight: Estimated at around 170 lbs (77 kg) during his trial
- Body Stats: Details on his body statistics are scarce, but he was of average build for a man of his time.
Haigh's next and last victim was Olive Durand-Deacon, 69, the wealthy widow of solicitor John Durand-Deacon and a fellow resident at the Onslow Court Hotel. Haigh by then was calling himself an engineer, and he heard Olive talk to her friends about her idea for artificial fingernails.
He invited her down to the Leopold Road workshop on 18 February 1949 and, once inside, he shot her in the back of the neck with the .38 calibre Webley revolver that he had stolen from Archibald Henderson, stripped her of her valuables, including a Persian lamb coat, and put her into the acid bath.
Two days later, Durand-Deacon's friend Constance Lane reported her missing.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John Haigh's relationships were reportedly complex and strained. While there isn't much public information about his family dynamics, it is known that he had a troubled upbringing and faced several personal issues that may have influenced his criminal behavior. As a serial killer, he was known to manipulate others for his own gain, but records do not indicate any significant romantic partnerships during his active years. Given the nature of his crimes, it’s unlikely that he maintained stable relationships, though some accounts suggest he had acquaintances whom he deceived.
His parents were engineer John Robert Haigh and his wife Emily (née Hudson), members of the Plymouth Brethren, a conservative Protestant sect. They had married late in life and Haigh was their only child.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimates regarding John Haigh's net worth during his lifetime are elusive. However, his financial gains from criminal activities, mainly through fraud and theft, provided him with some considerable wealth that was short-lived. Following his arrest and subsequent execution in 1949, any financial assets would have been seized or rendered worthless. Today, there are no claims of estate or financial assets linked to Haigh due to his notorious past and the nature of his crimes.
Career, Business and Investments
Before his descent into criminality, John Haigh worked in various jobs, including as an unsuccessful businessman and a painter. His career was marked by instability, and he often resorted to petty crime before escalating to murder. Haigh's notable criminal activities involved swindling money from the families of his victims, showcasing a disturbing blend of charm and ruthlessness. There’s no record of any legitimate business investments or successful careers that he maintained, as his life was characterized by deception and violence.
Haigh won a scholarship to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, then to Wakefield Cathedral, where he became a choirboy. After school, he was apprenticed to a firm of motor engineers. After a year, he left that job and took jobs in insurance and advertising. Aged 21, he was dismissed after being suspected of stealing from a cash box. After being fired, he moved on to forging car documents.
Social Network
Given the context of John Haigh’s life, his social interactions were limited and often driven by manipulation. His friendships were primarily formed through deceit, and he maintained connections to those he could exploit financially. In mainstream discussions, Haigh is often represented as a figure within the criminal underworld and has been the subject of various documentaries and criminal studies but lacked any real social networks that would be typical for a person outside of criminal activities.
The case was one of the post-1945 cases which gained considerable coverage in the newspapers even though Haigh's guilt was not questioned. The editor of the Daily Mirror, Silvester Bolam, was sentenced to a three-month prison term for contempt of court for describing Haigh as a "murderer" while the trial was still underway. The Daily Mirror also fined £10,000.
Education
John Haigh received a basic education and had a somewhat average upbringing with no notable accolades or achievements in academic fields. His education did not notably impact his criminal behavior, but it did provide him with enough literacy skills to execute his schemes and interact with potential victims effectively.
