10 Politicians With A Shocking History of Violence

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were exploring the politicians who werent dictators, but had a history of terrible violence. Well be looking at cases that include personal altercations and duels to state-sponsored violence and systemic political repression.

William Byron

With the hereditary title, Byron became the fifth Baron in his family in 1736. In 1743, he joined Englands House of Lords. However, in 1765, his life was thrown into disarray when Byron clashed with his cousin and neighbor, William Chaworth. While drinking at a tavern, the duo argued about who had more game on their estates. Then, Byron either challenged Chaworth to a duel or straight up attacked him with a sword, leading to his cousins death. Nicknamed "the Devil Byron" and "the Wicked Lord," he was tried for murder. However, he was only declared guilty of manslaughter, resulting in a small fine. The Byron Baron title was later returned to its former glory when famous poet George took on the mantle.

Tony Lecomber

The far-right political group the British National Party has often been criticized for its bigoted policies, which the group has attempted to downplay. However, the party did itself no favors with certain high-up political figures, like Lecomber, being in its ranks. In 1986, he was convicted for possession of numerous explosives, one of which he was carrying to the office of the Workers Revolutionary Party. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. In 1991, as the BNPs Propaganda Director, he got another 3-year sentence for attacking a Jewish teacher. In 2006, while working as the BNPs Group Development Officer, Lecomber reportedly spoke to an extremist about assassinating enemies of the party. Surprisingly, he didnt go back to jail, but he was fired.

Thomas Ley

In 1925, having spent several years working in politics, Ley was elected to Australias House of Representatives. However, his win was overshadowed after he allegedly attempted to bribe opponent Frederick McDonald. It wasnt helped when McDonald mysteriously vanished in 1926. Two other critics of Ley also died under suspicious circumstances. This scandal likely contributed to Ley not winning re-election in 1928. So, he returned to the country of his birth, England. In 1946, he became convinced that his mistress was having an affair with a man named John Mudie. He paid two men to kidnap Mudie, and then Ley killed him. After being sentenced to death, Ley was declared insane and instead received life imprisonment. He was sent to Broadmoor Hospital and died shortly after.

Thomas Francis Meagher

Today, Meagher is seen as an icon in the Republic of Ireland for introducing the countrys tricolor flag and being a nationalist against British rule. Yet even with his important legacy, his life wasnt free of violence. In 1848, he was involved in the Young Ireland rebellion in Ballingarry, which caused multiple deaths. As a result, Meagher was sentenced to death for sedition. However, public outrage changed the sentence to exile in modern-day Tasmania. In 1952, Meagher escaped and went to the US. When the Civil War broke out, he joined the Union and rose up the ranks. In 1865, Meagher was declared the Territorial Secretary of Montana and later the states Acting Territorial Governor. However, in 1867, he apparently drowned in the Missouri River.

John Wilson

Involved in forming Arkansass first constitution in 1836, Wilson was a vital cog in the states government. So much so that on top of being in the House of Representatives for Clark County, he had two terms as the Houses speaker. However, in 1837, he clashed with fellow representative Joseph J. Anthony, who, during a policy debate, made a comment that Wilson took offense to. While still in the Houses chamber, Wilson fatally stabbed Anthony. As well as being expelled from the government, Wilson was sent to trial. He was convicted of excusable homicide, or what we might call justifiable homicide today, and was released. In 1840, representing Pike Country, Wilson was re-elected to Arkansas's House of Representatives.

Toi Aukuso & Leafa Vitale

After Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi became Samoa's Prime Minister in 1998, Aukuso and Vitale werent happy. The duo had both held cabinet roles and had fallen from grace after Vitale was implicated in a corruption scandal. So, they planned to assassinate Tuilaepa and several other ministers. In 1999, Vitales son, Alatise, fatally shot the Minister of Works, Luagalau Levaula Kamu. He was sentenced to death, but it was soon changed to life imprisonment. In 2000, with Alatise testifying against them, Aukuso and Vitale were sentenced to death, which was also commuted to a life sentence. While Aukuso died inside in 2009, Vitale was controversially pardoned in 2012. Alatise was released in 2010 but returned to prison in 2019 after breaking parole.

Kuandyk Bishimbayev

Rising rapidly through the government of Kazakhstan, Bishimbayev was declared the countrys Minister of National Economy in 2016. However, less than eight months later, he was dismissed as an investigation into corruption got underway. In 2018, Bishimbayev was sentenced to 10 years but was released in 2020. However, in 2023, he sent shockwaves through Kazakhstan when he was accused of murdering his wife, Saltanat Nukenova. In 2024, hundreds of thousands of people tuned in to watch the trial on YouTube. CCTV footage and videos on Bishimbayevs own phone showed him attacking Nukenova for hours and questioning her about another man. Bishimbayev was found guilty and sentenced to 24 years, while his brother, Bakytzhan Bayzhanov, got four years for his failure to intervene.

Alberto Fujimori

In 1990, Fujimori made history by becoming Perus first president of Japanese descent. He immediately had a job on his hands. The military had planned a coup against former president Alan García, and the country was suffering from economic issues. Yet Fujimori soon took dark measures to establish control. As well as commissioning the anti-communist death squad Grupo Colina, Fujimori enacted forced sterilization of indigenous people. His presidency seemed to be headed toward a dictatorship when Fujimori left the country in 2000 following allegations of corruption. Interpol then issued an arrest warrant for him for crimes against humanity. After being extradited in 2007, Fujimori was sentenced for several crimes, earning him 44-and-a-half years in jail. However, he was pardoned in 2023 before dying in 2024.

Alfred Moore Waddell

Having been a part of the Confederacy during the Civil War, Waddell was elected to the US House of Representatives for North Carolina from 1871 to 1879. However, hes best known for being a white supremacist who led the only successful coup in the country to date. In 1898, Waddell brought 2,000 heavily armed white men to Wilmington, North Carolina. The group ransacked Black neighborhoods, taking the lives of up to 300 people and displacing thousands as they destroyed property. With the threat of a firearm, Waddell forced Wilmingtons elected mayor, Silas Wright, to resign alongside other officials. Waddell then installed himself as mayor so he could instate racist policies. With no criminal consequences, he held the position until 1906 and died in 1912.

Ershad Sikder

Rising from poverty to riches and a high position of power, Sikders life seemed like an inspiration. But in reality, he was a monster. He rose up the ranks of local government in the late 80s, earning millions, resulting in him being elected commissioner in the Bangladesh city of Khulna. However, in 1999, his reputation came crashing down when he was arrested for the murder of his political rival and Awami League colleague Khalid Hossain. Sikder's former bodyguard testified that Sikder had ordered over 59 murders and did 24 himself, taking out any threat to his power. During the trial, Sikder was convicted of seven murders, earning him the death penalty. In 2004, after his appeal was rejected, the sentence was carried out.

Which of these infamous politicians stories shocked you? Let us know below.