Sudden Death: 19th Century Coroners Inquests, a talk using case studies from Leicester

About the Talk 

Sudden fatalities attracted great social, medical and media interest in the nineteenth century. Inquests, typically held publicly and rapidly after a death, were community events, drawing people from all social classes together to discuss and judge causes of death. The coroner's court identified homicide and criminal acts of suicide, but also investigated accidents and unexpected natural deaths. The proceedings offer a remarkable insight into Victorian life, death and society, lifting the curtain on domestic life, working practices, and interpersonal relationships. In this talk, Sophie Michell explains how the inquest worked in the nineteenth century, using examples from Leicester.

About the Speaker

Sophie Michell is a PhD candidate at the Open University, studying the coroner’s court in Peterborough.

This is a talk for the Vaughan Forum series which is hosted by Leicester Vaughan College.  A Zoom joining link will be sent to you once you have signed up for your ticket.