Mary Ann Cotton, an Englishwoman, is one of the most notorious serial killers in the world. Over a span of 21 years, she ruthlessly murdered her own husbands, a lover, and several children using her weapon of choice, arsenic. With symptoms resembling an upset stomach, she managed to evade the law for two decades. Mary Ann lured in wealthy men with her charm and beauty, marrying them for the insurance money. Once tired of her husbands, she casually poisoned their food or drinks, escaping with the insurance money without raising suspicion. As her confidence grew, she became more brazen in her killings, leading to suspicions being raised. Finally, the murder of her stepson led to her arrest and subsequent hanging in 1873. The shocking tales of her life left the world in disbelief and horror.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In October
- Also Known As: Mary Ann Robson
- Died At Age: 40
- Died on: March 24, 1873
- Place of death: Durham, England
Family
- Spouse/Ex-: George Ward (m. 1865–1866), William Mowbray (m. 1852–1865)
- Father: Michael Robson
- Mother: Margaret, née Londsale
- Children: George Robinson (Son), Isabella Jane Mowbray (Daughter), John Mowbray (Son), Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton (Daughter), Margaret Mowbray (Daughter), Mary Isabella Robinson (Daughter), Robert Robson Cotton (Son)
Serial Killers
- British Women
Childhood & Early Life
Mary Ann Cotton was born in a small village in North England on 31st October 1832. Her father, a miner, died when she was just 8 years old. Her mother remarried a few years later, but Mary hated her stepfather. The constant assaults from her stepfather led Mary to run away from home at the age of 16. She found work as a nurse in the nearby village of South Hetton at the house of a manager named Edward Potter. After a few years, she returned to her stepfather’s house and started working as a dressmaker with dreams of making wealth. She got married for the first time at the age of 20.
Marriages & Killing Spree
Mary Ann got married to a labourer named William Mowbray and the couple moved to South West England. They had two daughters, but tragically, their first daughter Margaret Jane died in 1860. Mary gave birth to two more children, a boy and a girl, before her husband William died of an illness in 1865. Mary collected insurance money from his death and moved to Seaham Harbour, where she started a love affair with Joseph Nattrass. Her daughter Margaret died a few months later, and Mary returned to Sunderland to work in an infirmary.
Mary’s good looks caught the attention of George Ward, one of the patients at the infirmary. They dated and got married in 1865. However, George fell ill and died a year later. Mary collected the insurance money and started a relationship with a widower named James Robinson. Mary worked as a housekeeper for James, who had a son from his previous marriage. Unfortunately, the son died of gastric fever, and Mary comforted James, which led to her getting pregnant.
In 1866, Mary’s mother became severely ill, and Mary went to see her. Her mother started complaining of stomach cramps and died in 1867. Mary married James and gave birth to a daughter named Isabella Margaret, who died in 1868. The next year, Mary gave birth to a son named George. James grew suspicious of Mary’s intentions and threw her out of the house, not allowing her to take custody of their son.
Mary became bankrupt and lived on the streets until she met Frederick Cotton, a widower. They got married, and Mary gave birth to his son. Frederick fell ill and died, and Mary started a relationship with Joseph Nattrass, one of her former lovers. Joseph also died of gastric fever. Thomas Riley, who sensed something off about Mary’s history, reported his suspicions to the police. An investigation revealed that Mary had moved around North England, and all her husbands and their children had died from the same cause. Mary was arrested in 1873 and sentenced to death by hanging.
Execution
Mary Ann Cotton was hanged at Durham County Goal on 24th March 1873. Out of the 13 children she had, only two survived – a daughter named Margaret Edith and a son named George Robinson.
In Pop Culture
Mary Ann Cotton’s story has been the subject of several books, stories, and poems. In 2016, a television drama titled “Dark Angel” was aired on ITV, based on a novel by crime novelist David Wilson titled “Mary Ann Cotton: Britain’s First Female Serial Killer.”