Joseph Blake (criminal)

Joseph "Blueskin" Blake
Bornbaptised, 31 October 1700
Upper Thames Street, London, England
Died11 November 1724 (age 24)
Tyburn Tree Gallows, Middlesex, London, England
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Resting placeSt Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex, London, England
Occupation(s)highwayman, murderer
Known forhis vicious attack on London thief and "Thief-Taker General", Jonathan Wild

Joseph "Blueskin" Blake (baptised 31 October 1700 – 11 November 1724) was an 18th-century English highwayman and prison escapee.

There are no contemporary pictures of Blake but he is featured in the second image of "The Last Scene" engraved by George Cruikshank in 1839 to illustrate William Harrison Ainsworth's serialised novel, Jack Sheppard. The caption reads: "Blueskin cutting down Jack Sheppard". In reality Blueskin had himself already been executed by the time of Sheppard's execution.