Excerpts from Bellany's recent book,
"Wiki-People Who Died At Age 32"

Since 2006, Bellany has scoured Wikipedia for people who died at his exact age. When he was 32, he found 117 figures - some obscure and others notable, who had died at that tender age. In addition to writing up a short biography for each 'character', Bellany created original black and white portraits using illustrations he uncovered on image searches.

"Being the same age as each person I researched (when they died), I naturally felt a strong personal connection to their stories. I compared our accomplishments, social situations, and the eras in which we lived. It was a new way of looking at both history and myself. Now that I have moved on to age 33, I find myself contemplating the strange fact that I have lived longer than Bruce Lee, King Richard III and Alexander the Great. It definitely motivates me to work harder and make a difference."

↓more

・Bruce Lee

・Buzz Sawyer

・Davey Allison

・Dick Turpin

・Eadred of England

・Elizabeth Siddal

・Galeazzo Maria Sforza

・Glen Kidston

・Hernan Gaviria

・Jedediah 'Strong' Smith

・Joseph I

・Keith Godchaux

・Lya De Putti

・Mike Lockwood

・Ota Benga

・Ottavio Bottecchia

・Proof

・Regnier De Graaf

・Steve Chiasson

・Thomas Ashe

・Vladimir of Novgorod

・William Cartwright

・Wyndham Hallswelle

back to INDEX

Wiki-People Who Died At Age 32

Dick Turpin (1706-1739)
Of all the famous rogues of England, Dick Turbin was one of the most notoriously roguish. In addition to committing murder and numerous assaults, Turbin stole cattle from his neighbors, deer from the king, and horses from almost everybody else. In the U.K., where researchers really dig deep into the history of such roguery, there is debate as to whether Dick Turbin was a criminal by financial necessity or if he was merely a thrill-seeking bandit. I speculate that the truth might lay somewhere in-between. While his adventures are often misrepresented and his deeds exaggerated, there is no doubt that he had the appearance of a gentleman and was quite well-educated for an 18th century bandit.

After making a legendary escape from the London area on a fast horse named "Black Bess", he went to the north of England and continued his criminal success using the alias of 'John Palmer' until he was executed for horse thievery at the age of 32.

In the 20th century, Dick Turpin's story often merges with the legend of Robin Hood - turning him into a classic TV good guy. Folk-singer Woody Guthrie's song 'Unwelcome Guest', which was recorded by Wilco and Billy Bragg on the album 'Mermaid Avenue', also treats him as a misunderstood hero - as do the numerous Bed and Breakfasts named after him in central England.