John Wilkes Booth: Actor Turned Lincoln Assassin

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor from the Booth family. Booth, born on May 10, 1838, in Bel Air, Maryland, was the son of renowned actor Junius Brutus Booth and had siblings Edwin and Junius Jr. He rose to prominence in the 1850s and early 1860s with performances in plays such as Richard III and Romeo and Juliet, recognized for his dynamic stage presence and offstage arrogance. A fervent supporter of the Confederacy, Booth initially conspired to kidnap Lincoln in late 1864 with George A. Atzerodt but opted for murder as the war's tide shifted. After shooting Lincoln at close range in his private box, Booth fled despite injuring his leg, igniting a massive manhunt. He sought refuge with Dr. Samuel Mudd and was ultimately found at Richard Garrett's farm in Virginia on April 26, 1865. Booth was shot by Union soldier Boston Corbett after refusing to surrender, marking the conclusion of the largest manhunt in American history at that time.