Robert Rice Howard was born in 1833, and was Sydney’s State

Executioner, the hangman, for 30 years.

Howard was considered of dashing appearance before an unfortunate accident disfigured him in he late 1860s when a horse kicked him in the face. This badly disfigured his nose and ruined his taxi business and he turned to drink. The most unpopular job in the city was the role of Hangman.

Nosey Bob, as he was now referred to, assumed the role between the years 1873 through to 1903 and during his time he hanged 64 people.