H. H. Holmes
1861 – 1896

H. H. Holmes

American con artist and serial killer (1861–1896)

con artisthotel managerserial killerpharmacistphysician
Born
1861-05-16, Gilmanton
Died
1896-05-07
Birthplace state
New Hampshire

Biography

Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or H. H. Holmes, was an American con artist and serial killer active between 1891 and 1894. By the time of his execution in 1896, Holmes had engaged in a lengthy criminal career that included insurance fraud, forgery, swindling, three or four bigamous marriages, horse theft, and murder. Known as the Beast of Chicago, the Devil in the White City, or the Torture Doctor, his most notorious crimes took place in Chicago around the time of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

Occupation

H. H. Holmes is recorded as a con artist, a hotel manager, a serial killer, a pharmacist and a physician, born in New Hampshire (1861–1896).

Connections to New Hampshire

H. H. Holmes was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire in 1861. Explore other notable figures from New Hampshire, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Frequently asked about H. H. Holmes

Who was H. H. Holmes?
H. H. Holmes was American con artist and serial killer (1861–1896), born in New Hampshire (1861 – 1896).
When and where was H. H. Holmes born?
H. H. Holmes was born on 1861-05-16 in Gilmanton.
When did H. H. Holmes die?
H. died on 1896-05-07.
What was H. H. Holmes known for?
H. H. Holmes is recorded as a con artist, a hotel manager, a serial killer, a pharmacist and a physician.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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