Robert Stroud, the infamously named "Birdman of Alcatraz" was probably the most famous prisoner on the island. Despite the nickname, Stroud had never owned any birds while serving on Alcatraz. In 1909, Stroud was convicted of manslaughter after brutally killing a man who refused to pay for the prostitute for whom Stroud was pimping at the time. Say No to Plagiarism Get a custom essay on “Why Video Games violent should not be banned." ? Get the original essay After killing the man, Stroud took the man's wallet to compensate the prostitute for her services. Stroud was initially imprisoned on McNeil Island, a federal penitentiary in the United States States in Washington state However, he was violent and disruptive behavior didn't stop there, as he had brutally attacked another inmate while serving time at McNeil. After being transferred to Leavenworth, Stroud brutally stabbed a guard to death in front of 1,100 inmates who were present after refusing his brother's visit. He was convicted of first degree murder and was to be hanged. His mother desperately pleaded for his life, and finally, in 1920, President Woodrow commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment with parole. It was Stroud's violent behavior that earned him time in segregation. Stroud developed his interest in birds when he found an injured bird in the recreation yard. He was then allowed to raise birds as prison officials thought it was a good idea for him to use his time constructively. In his 30 years at Leavenworth, Stroud wrote two books about canaries and the diseases they contract. It didn't take long for prison officials to discover that Stroud had been using birdcages to hide contraband items and that the equipment required for his so-called scientific studies was being used to build a still for alcoholic beverages. Stroud was eventually transferred to Alcatraz in 1942, where he was held for the next 17 years of his life. Stroud had spent a total of 54 years of his life behind bars before being transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, where he died in November. 21, 1963.