edinburgh54 Deacon Brodie Born 28th Sept. 1741 Executed 1st Oct. 1788 William Brodie, Deacon of Wrights and Masons of Edinburgh, was the son of a cabinet maker in the lawnmarket. He was born in Brodie’s Close and hanged near St. Giles -- both places being just a few steps from the tavern which now bears his name. In manhood, Brodies baseness inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write the famous classic -- Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. By day, William Brodie was pious, wealthy and a much respected citizen and in 1781 was elected Deacon Councilor of the city. But at night he was a gambler, a thief, dissipated and licentious. The annals record 'His cunning and audacity were unsurpassed'. Brodie was hanged from the city's new gallows on Oct 1st 1788. Ironically he had designed the gallows that were to eventually seal his fate.