John Felton

John Felton was an English army officer who gained notoriety for the assassination of George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham. On August 23, 1628, Felton stabbed the Duke to death inside the Greyhound Pub in Portsmouth.

The Duke of Buckingham was a trusted advisor to Charles I who had become wealthy despite his repeated failures in foreign and military policy. After leading a disastrous expedition against Spain in 1625 and another failed campaign in 1627, the Duke became widely hated and severely damaged the reputation of the King. Following the assassination, the English public widely celebrated Felton’s actions, even after he was executed for the crime.