Harry Pitts (27 June 1861 – 30 April 1897)[1][2] was the first person to be killed by a terrorist attack on the London Underground.

Pitts died of injuries received from a bomb which exploded at Aldersgate Station (now Barbican) on 26 April 1897.[3] The bomb was planted by Russian anarchists in revenge for one of their members being given a seven-year prison sentence. At an inquest into Pitts death a verdict of "wilful murder against person or persons unknown" was recorded.[4]

Pitts was born in Bradninch, Devon the son of a millwright. He briefly spent some time in Lancashire before settling in Tottenham, North London. He was married and had two daughters.

References

  1. General Register Office birth indices. Harry Pitts Q3 1861 Tiverton Vol 5b page 402
  2. General Register Office death indices. Harry Pitts Q2 1897 London City Vol 1c page 19
  3. "The Explosion on the Metropolitan Railway". The Times. No. 35189. 28 April 1897. p. 12. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  4. "The Explosion at Aldersgate-Street Station". The Times. No. 35212. 25 May 1897. p. 15. Retrieved 19 October 2009.


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