Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and death of John Wilkes Booth, April 1865

Background. John Wilkes Booth, an American stage actor, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Booth had previously attended Lincoln's inauguration and expressed a desire to kill the President. Lewis Powell, a Confederate soldier, was part of the plot and encountered Booth in Baltimore in early 1865. Boston Corbett, an American soldier, later killed Booth.

The Assassination. On April 14, 1865, Booth went to Ford's Theatre to get his mail. He shot President Lincoln during a performance. Lewis Powell attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William H. Seward as part of the plot. Powell had encountered Booth outside Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore in early 1865.

Aftermath and Death. Lincoln died from his gunshot wound. Andrew Johnson became the 17th President. Booth was cornered in a Virginia barn at Garrett Farm near Port Royal. Boston Corbett fatally shot Booth on April 26, 1865. Corbett later testified in the trial of the conspirators.

Conspirators and Trial. Boston Corbett testified in the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators on May 17, 1865.