He and his brother, Cornelis, were lynched by a mob fuelled by political rivalries and orchestrated propaganda, as detailed by LBV and multiple historical accounts.

Some reports suggest that parts of de Witt’s body were cannibalised by the mob—a brutal symbol of political violence that has since become a cautionary tale of democracy’s fragility.

Witt’s downfall is reported to have been rooted in a combination of factors, including the fact that the Netherlands was facing a devastating invasion by France (the so-called “Rampjaar” or Year of Disaster), leaving citizens panicked and enraged.

Additionally, De Witt represented the republican faction that clashed with the pro-monarchy House of Orange. His opponents exploited the chaos to stir up public anger.

The result was a brutal eruption of mob justice that culminated in an act of cannibalism—an event that shocked Europe and left an indelible stain on Dutch history .

Though today’s Netherlands is a stable democracy, the episode of de Witt’s murder—and the alleged cannibalism—remains a stark reminder of how populist anger and misinformation can destabilise even well-functioning governments.

This article explores ten such leaders who barely had time to make their mark before their time in power was suddenly cut short.

King Louis XIX

King Louis XIX of France reigned for just 20 minutes on August 2, 1830. He abdicated almost immediately after his father, Charles X, due to pressure from a revolutionary uprising.

Pedro Lascuráin

Pedro Lascuráin holds the record for the shortest presidency in history , serving for 45 minutes on February 19, 1913. He was appointed president during a coup and quickly resigned to allow General Victoriano Huerta to take over.

Siaka Stevens

Siaka Stevens became Prime Minister of Sierra Leone on March 21, 1967, but was overthrown in an hour. He later regained power and served as President for 17 years.

Hezekiah Ochuka

Hezekiah Ochuka led a coup in Kenya on August 1, 1982, and ruled for about six hours before being overthrown. His brief rule ended with his execution for treason.

Magdalena Andersson

Magdalena Andersson, Sweden’s first female Prime Minister, served for only 7 hours before resigning following a budget defeat. She later returned with a new coalition.

Carlos Luz

Carlos Luz held Brazil's presidency for just three days in 1955 before facing impeachment due to his attempt to dismiss a prominent minister.

Frank Forde

Frank Forde served as Prime Minister of Australia for only eight days in July 1945, following the death of John Curtin. He was succeeded by Ben Chifley.

Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey, known as the "Nine Days' Queen," was declared queen of England on July 10, 1553. She was deposed by Mary I and executed the following year.

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States, served the shortest term of any U.S. president, dying of pneumonia just 32 days after his inauguration in 1841.

Liz Truss

Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after just 44 days in office in October 2022, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history .