The Cock-Lane Ghost was a hoax conducted by William Parsons, his wife, daughter and a female ventriloquist during 1760 and 1761 at number 33 Cock- lane, London. In the house, unaccountable noises were heard and a number of persons declared to have seen a ghost. To spite a previous lodger, Kemt, the owner of the house claimed the ghost was a lady poisoned by Kemt. The truth was discovered and the parents were condemned to the pillory and two years imprisonment in 1762. Research Cock-Lane Ghost
William Parsons, the third earl of Rosse, was an English astronomer. He was born in 1800 at York and died in 1867. He was member of parliament for King's County, Ireland from 1823 to 1834, but resigned to devote time to improving reflecting telescopes. His great telescope was erected at Parsonstown in King's County in 1845. Research William Parsons
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