Who killed Sulivan? the mysterious murder of the British Minister Plenipotentiary in Peru

Abstract

At seven o'clock on the night of August 11, 1857, Stephen Henry Sulivan was having dinner at his house, on La Puerta Falsa del Teatro street in the heart of Lima, when he was surprised by the appearance of a stranger. Puzzled, he got up to ask the reason for his presence. The response was a discharge of three shots, two long and one short aimed at the left side of his stomach. Once his treachery was consummated, the murderer allegedly exclaimed: “I am avenged” and ran to meet his accomplices who were waiting for him outside the residence1.