Marcel Chevalier worked as the last chief executioner in France. He succeeded Andr� Obrecht in 1976 and held his position until 1981, when capital punishment was abolished under president Fran�ois Mitterrand and justice minister Robert Badinter. The method of application of the death penalty for civil capital offences in France 1791?1981 was beheading with the guillotine. Military executions were by firing squad. Chevalier, who started his executioner's career in 1958, performed about 40 executions. After his appointment as chief executioner, on 1 October 1976, he executed only two people. They were the last two executions in France: J�r�me Carrein, condemned twice for the murder and rape of an 8-year-old girl, was guillotined on 23 June 1977 in Douai. Hamida Djandoubi for having tortured and strangled his former girlfriend was guillotined on 10 September 1977 in Marseilles. Chevalier worked as a printer subsequent to his retirement. He was married to Marcelle Obrecht, the niece of penultimate chief executioner of France, Andr� Obrecht. 

February 28th, 1921 in Montrouge  /  Died:   Oct 8th, 2008