Joseph-Ignace Guillotin

Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (May 28,1738 - May 26, 1814) Dr. Guillotin did not invent the guillotine, but proposed the use of a mechanical device to carry out death penalties in France on October 10, 1789.

Ironically, Guillotin was oposed to the death penalty. He hoped that a more humane and less painfull method of execution would be the first step towards a total abolition of the death penalty.