​Deacon Brodie's

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The Legend of Deacon Brodie

 

    In 18th Century Edinburgh, Scotland, William Brodie was born on September 28, 1741.      

His father was a well-known cabinet maker and William sooned picked up the trade. William

became a well-respected figure in Edinburgh through his cabinet making and was made a

leader of the town council, earning him the title of "Deacon." Brodie also had a dark side.

At night he would be out on the streets of Edinburgh frequenting prostitute houses, gambling

dens, and pubs. He also fathered five illegitimate children through two mistresses. His job also

allowed him access to some of the finest houses in Edinburgh, where he would make wax copies

of the house keys of his customers and steal all of their valuables and money at night. Brodie

continued his criminal activity for years, even gaining partners such as poet Robert Burns and

Scotland's famous painter, Henry Raeburn. On March 5. 1788, along with John Brown and Andrew

Ainslee, Brodie decided to rob the excise (Tax) office of Edinburgh. Legend has it that Brodie

was very intoxicated from his night life and passed out in the middle of the break in and was

carried away by his partners. The citizens of Edinburgh soon learned of Brodie's secret life

and soon began calling for his head. Deacon Brodie caught a boat to the Netherlands, where

he planned an escape to America. Before he could carry out his plan the law caught up to him

and he was arrested. Brodie was tried and found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. On

October 1, 1788, Brodie was excecuted on a gallow that he himself had designed. Some Legends

claim that Brodie's friends recovered him and took him to a doctor in an attempt to revive him.

Whether or not they succeded remains a mystery and the story of Deacon Brodie continues to grow

in legend. the story of Deacon Brodie was the inspiration for one of history's most famous novels,

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. by Robert Louis Stevenson. Several restaurants and

pubs are named after the legend, including our location here in Butler, AL.