Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Quick Facts: Who was Assassination of Abraham Lincoln?

Subject:

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Known for:

The 16th U.S. President, assassinated in 1865 after the Civil War.

Died:

1865

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

On April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was shot in the head while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.. He died the following day, six weeks into his second term and a month before the conclusion of the American Civil War. Lincoln was watching the play Our American Cousin with his wife Mary Todd, Major Henry Rathbone, and Rathbone's fiancé Clara Harris when John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate sympathizer, shot him from behind. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House across the street, where he died the following morning. With Union victory imminent, Booth and his conspirators, including Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt, originally plotted to kidnap Lincoln to aid the Confederacy.

Career & Major Achievements

After that plan failed to materialize, they decided to assassinate him, Secretary of State William H. Seward, and Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth hoped that eliminating the three most important officials of the federal government would revive the Confederate cause. Powell and Herold were assigned to kill Seward, while Atzerodt was assigned to kill Johnson. Booth succeeded in killing Lincoln, but Powell only managed to wound Seward, while Atzerodt became drunk and never targeted Johnson. Booth fled into Maryland after shooting Lincoln and rendezvoused with Herold.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Lincoln's secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, directed the largest manhunt in US history at the time, involving thousands of troops. After a 12-day search, on April 26, Booth and Herold were located at a tobacco farm in King George County, Virginia. Booth was fatally shot by Sergeant Boston Corbett after refusing to surrender. The other conspirators were captured by the end of April 1865, except for John Surratt, whom the US captured in Egypt in November 1866. Powell, Herold, Atzerodt, and Mary Surratt were hanged in July 1865, while John Surratt was released after a mistrial in 1867 and never retried.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1865: Passing & Historical Legacy — Assassination of Abraham Lincoln passed away on 1865, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

“What an excellent chance I had, if I wished, to kill the President on Inauguration day!” (1865)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

True or False: “Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president assassinated while in office.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he was the first by assassination, Andrew Johnson was also a president who died in office.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. P. Hill — Contemporary (Died in 1865) (1865): Confederate general who distinguished himself in the American Civil War.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Contemporary (Born in 1865) (1865): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• Abraham Lincoln — Contemporary (Died in 1865) (1865): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela — Historical peer (Born in 1865) (1865): Leading Finnish painter and pioneer of national romantic art, famed for the Kalevala.
• Alexander Glazunov — Historical peer (Born in 1865) (1865): A leading Russian Romantic composer, known for reconciling nationalism and cosmopolitanism.
• Abraham Flexner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering American educator known for reforming US and Canadian medical and higher education.
• Alfred Werner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering Swiss chemist who established modern coordination chemistry.
• Albert Bassermann — Historical peer (Born in 1867) (1867): Esteemed German stage and screen actor, celebrated for his dramatic versatility.
• Amy Beach — Historical peer (Born in 1867) (1867): Pioneering American composer and pianist, celebrated for her large-scale art music.
• 1865 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1865

Frequently Asked Questions about Assassination of Abraham Lincoln