Hangings and Dissections

I have come across an interesting passage in Under The Black Flag:

The dissection of executed criminals had been authorized in Henry VIII's reign and was common practice by the eighteenth century. This was the fate of a gang of pirates who operatefrom Hastings were hanged in 1768. There were instances where a hanged man survived the execution. William Duell was hanged in 1740 and taken to Surgeon's Hall for dissection. As his body was being washed, it was observed that he was still breathing. A surgeon bled him and in two hours he had recovered and was sitting up in a chair. He was sent back to Newgate Prison, and the authorities evidently decided that one hanging was enough. His sentence was commuted to transportation to the colonies.

Now that would be a story to tell your children ;)