J
ohn Wilkes Booth plotted and carried out the assassination of President Lincoln. Originally, the plan was to abduct President Lincoln and take him to Virginia, but when General Lee surrendered, Booth and his comrades were forced to change their plans. Fatefully, on April 15, 1865, Booth shot and killed President Lincoln. Through his actions, Booth hoped to reinvigorate the Confederacy, but the assassination only strengthened the Union's cause and destroyed any hope of a Confederate
Timeline
From
Co-Conspirators: Lewis Powell
Attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward, April 15, 1865; hanged July 7, 1865
Co-Conspirators: John Surratt, Jr
In New York spying for the Confederacy on the night of the assassination, fled to Canada after assassination;
Co-Conspirators: Samuel Arnold
sentenced to life in prison, pardoned by Pres. Johnson; Part of the kidnapping conspiracy
Co-Conspirators: David Herold
hanged July 7, 1865; Met up with Booth after assassination of Lincoln, surrendered when Booth was killed
Co-Conspirators: Michael O’Laughlen
Accused of plotting to assassinate General Ulysses S. Grant; Sentenced to life in prison, died 1867
Co-Conspirators: George Atzerodt
Evidence found that it was his job to kill VP Andrew Johnson but he stayed at hotel bar all night; hanged July 7, 1865
Co-Conspirators: Edman Spangler
sentenced to 6 years in prison; Convicted of being an accomplice to Booth; Held the door for him at Ford's Theater
Co-Conspirators: Dr. Samuel Mudd
Treated Booth’s broken leg after the assassination of Lincoln; sentenced to life in prison, pardoned by Pres. Johnson
Co-Conspirators: Mary Surratt
hanged July 7, 1865; Provided housing and weapons for conspirators; also a chief architect of the plan
Quotes: Abraham Lincoln
Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower."
Quotes: John Wilkes Booth's diary
"For six months we had worked to capture. But, our cause being almost lost, something decisive and great must be done."
The Assassination: Date
Apr 15, 1865
The Assassination: Place
Ford's Theater, Washington, D.C.
The Assassination: Time
approx. 10:15 pm
Event
Assassination of President Lincoln
Location
Ford’s Theater, 10th Street, Washington DC, USA
The Conspiracy: Meeting at Gautier's Restaurant
Mar 15, 1865
The Conspiracy: Kidnap plan abandoned
April 7, 1865 Richmond falls to Union forces and Lee surrenders making the kidnapping plan pointless
The Conspiracy: Plan
Kidnap President Lincoln on March 17, 1865; plan failed when Lincoln changed his plans to attend the theater
The Conspiracy: Address
252 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20003
Capturing John Wilkes Booth: Boston Corbett
Shot Booth
Capturing John Wilkes Booth: Found Booth
In the barn on the Garrett farm with David Herold
Capturing John Wilkes Booth: Captured and killed
Apr 26, 1865
Other Facts
Individuals Involved
Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth
