Daniel M'Naghten

Daniel M'Naghten was a man involved in a criminal case in 1843, which led to the creation of the M'Naghten Rule. He believed he was being persecuted by the government and, under this delusion, shot and injured the Prime Minister's secretary, thinking he was targeting the Prime Minister himself. The case raised important questions about mental health and criminal responsibility. The court decided that M'Naghten was legally insane because he didn't understand the nature of his actions or that they were wrong. This case set a key legal standard for determining when someone can be excused from criminal liability due to mental illness.