John Elliot (physician)

John Elliot (1747 – 1787) was a British physician and natural philosopher, notable for his chemical experiments and for being executed for highway robbery.

Born in London, Elliot studied medicine and became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians in 1779. He conducted experiments on gases and electricity and published several works, including Philosophical Observations on the Senses (1780), which explored the relationship between the senses and perception, and Experiments and Observations on Light and Colours (1786). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1785.

Despite his scientific success, Elliot was plagued by financial difficulties and increasingly erratic behavior. He became involved with a group of highwaymen, and in 1787, he was arrested and convicted of robbing a woman near Epping Forest. Despite appeals based on his mental state, Elliot was hanged at Newgate Prison on July 23, 1787. His execution drew considerable public attention due to his prominent position in the scientific community.