BUFFALO — 1901 · Murder
The Assassination of President McKinley
On 6 September 1901, William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was shot twice by an anarchist while shaking hands with the public at the Temple of Music during the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. The president at first seemed to be recovering, but his wounds turned gangrenous and he died on 14 September; Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him. The assassin was convicted of first-degree murder within a month and executed in October 1901. McKinley was the third sitting U.S. president to be assassinated, after Lincoln and Garfield, and his death led Congress to formally assign presidential protection to the Secret Service.
- Date
- 1901
- Place
- New York, USA, Buffalo, US
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 42.9355, -78.8738 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 6 September 1901McKinley was shot twice during a public reception at the Temple of Music.
- 14 September 1901The president died of gangrene from his wounds; Roosevelt was sworn in.
- September 1901The assassin was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
- 29 October 1901The assassin was executed in the electric chair.
- After 1906Congress formally tasked the Secret Service with protecting the president.
Sources
- HISTORY — The Assassination of President William McKinley history.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Assassination of William McKinley en.wikipedia.org ↗
- William G. Pomeroy Foundation — Temple of Music marker wgpfoundation.org ↗
- HISTORY
- University at Buffalo Libraries
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.