Overview
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth while attending a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He was carried to the Petersen House across the street and died there at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, while a coordinated plot also targeted Secretary of State William H. Seward and, unsuccessfully, Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth fled through Maryland into Virginia and was killed on April 26, 1865; several co-conspirators were tried by a military commission, with four executed on July 7, 1865. The assassination was the first of a U.S. president and profoundly shaped the nation’s path during Reconstruction.
Featured Book
by James L. Swanson
A tightly focused narrative on the shooting, Booth's escape, and the nationwide manhunt that followed, which makes it the best single-book fit for this case.
Best for readers who want the assassination and pursuit told as a fast, deeply reported historical true-crime story.
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Case At A Glance
Key context, structure, and current status
Status: Solved
Also known as: Lincoln Assassination, Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Murder of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Murder Case, Booth Conspiracy
Coverage: 14 timeline events, 10 persons, and 9 locations
Sources collected: 33 sources