WASHINGTON — 1865 · Murder
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Days after the American Civil War had effectively ended, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head on the evening of 14 April 1865 while watching a play from his box at Ford's Theatre in Washington. The mortally wounded president was carried across the street to the Petersen House, where he died the next morning, 15 April. The same night Secretary of State William Seward was stabbed at home but survived. The gunman, a Confederate-sympathising actor, was killed on 26 April after a 12-day flight, cornered by soldiers at a Virginia farm. Those accused of joining the conspiracy were tried by a military commission, and four were hanged on 7 July 1865. Lincoln was the first US president to be assassinated.
- Date
- 1865
- Place
- Washington, D.C., USA, Washington, US
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 38.8967, -77.0258 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 14 April 1865Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre; Seward was attacked at home.
- 15 April 1865Lincoln died at the Petersen House.
- 26 April 1865The gunman was killed at a Virginia farm where he was cornered.
- May-June 1865The alleged conspirators were tried by a military commission.
- 7 July 1865Four of the accused were hanged.
Sources
- National Park Service — Ford's Theatre FAQs nps.gov ↗
- PBS American Experience — The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln pbs.org ↗
- Wikipedia — Assassination of Abraham Lincoln en.wikipedia.org ↗
- National Park Service
- PBS American Experience
- 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.