Ronald Ryan was the last man to be put to death by hanging in Australia.

He was a small-time criminal with no recorded history of violence. He was sent to prison in 1964 for shop-breaking and weapons offences. He received a 13 year sentence.

On 19 December, 1965, Ronald Ryan and fellow prisoner Peter John Walker to escaped from Pentridge Prison. Prison guard George Hodson was killed during the escape attempt.

Ryan and Walker were captured in Sydney after 19 days and extradited back to Melbourne. Ryan was charged with the murder of Hodson and was later convicted and sentenced to death.

Ryan was hanged at Pentridge Prison at 8 am on Friday 3 February 1967. He was 41 years old.

The hanging produced much protest in Australia. There was doubt about Ryan's guilt in Hodson's death, and surprise to find that the death penalty would still be carried out. It is often claimed that the execution was used by the state government of Victoria for political gain.