In 1863, Abraham Lincoln sat down with journalist Noah Brooks to have one of their many conversations while Lincoln was in office. Perhaps the most notable statement Lincoln made was: "I long ago made up my mind that if anybody wants to kill me, he will do it. If I wore a shirt of mail and kept myself surrounded by a bodyguard, it would be all the same. There are a thousand ways of getting at a man if it is desirable that he should be killed. Besides, in this case, it seems to me, the man who would come after me would be just as objectionable to my enemies -- if I have any.”
John Wilkes Booth was born on May 10, 1838 in Bel Air Maryland to parents Mary Ann Holmes and Junius Brutus Booth, who was known around town for his incredible acting skills, unique personality and heavy drinking. John was one of 10 children. He was raised on a farm plantation which was run by slaves. When he was young, John attended the Milton Boarding School for Boys, and at a later age St. Timothy's Hall, which he attended off and on. Starting early on in his life, he was always described as being incredibly handsome. During the 1850's, he joined what is known as the “No-Nothing Party” which seeked to expel immigration into the United States. Booth's support for slavery became increasingly evident when he joined a Virginia Company which contributed to the capture and execution of slave John Brown, who raided Harper's Ferry. Booth was also a secret agent for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Even at a young age, those who knew him well knew that he would one day become an actor, just like his father. When he was 17, he made his first official acting debut in Baltimore with a role in the Shakespeare play Richard III. He was wildly popular and toured ar...
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...t's hair for her keeping. On April 18 his body was carried to the Capitol rotunda to lay on a catafalque. Three days later, on April 21 his body was brought on to a train to Springfield, Illinois, where he was born and raised. Thousands of people came to the station to bid their a President a proper goodbye. He was buried next to his son, Willie on May 4 at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near Springfield.
Since the time of Lincoln's death, many conspiracies have surrounded the death of our 16 President. Some believe that Andrew Johnson was apart of this plan, some even think that it was suicide. Usually, when I hear stories of people who think that a death didn't happen the way it was told, or that someone faked their death, I often times think it's because we as human beings don't want to accept the fact that someone we love is gone. Even if it is in the worst way possible.
Most Americans know John Wilkes Booth as the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. Shot at a play at Ford’s Theater on April 14th, 1865. However, the names of the conspirators that surrounded Wilkes Booth are relatively unknown, especially that of Mary Surratt. Mary Surratt, a mother and boardinghouse proprietor, was arrested and tried for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln along with her son, John Surratt. Pleas from her family, lawyer, and fellow conspirators did not allow her to escape her fate, and she was hanged for her crimes on July 7th, 1865.
At 17, he took his first steps toward becoming a stand up comedian. When he took the stage at a Boston comedy club, he found he was a natural comic. He nurtured his talent while at New York
John Wilkes Booth was a famous actor, and could have had many assassination chances, including Lincoln’s second inauguration. Wanting the South to win the war, he never wanted the punishment of assassinating the president of the United States. Being a supporter of the Confederate, Booth believed that he assassinated Lincoln the momentum would spark the Confederate troops to life and lead them to victory. This book is very vivid in detail and is a great educational tool if you would like to learn more about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Booth had got the news that the president would be at the Ford’s theatre. This was great news for john both Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln will be there in the same place. “Booth heard the big news: in just eight hours the man who was the subject of all his hating and plotting would stand on the very stone steps here he now sat. “Booth began to plain his assassination without having to hunt for Lincoln. John had a deep hatred for Lincoln, he had hated the state that our country had been in.
In Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, by James L. Swanson, the main characters were; John Wilkes Booth, Dr. Leale, Abraham Lincoln (even though he dies.) When John Wilkes Booth (a.k.a Booth) found out that the North had won the Civil War, he felt anger and disgust but he could do nothing. Booth had one plot that the book talked about and that was to kidnap the president and sell him to the leaders of the South but that plot never got put into action. When booth went to Ford's theatre got a letter, Booth worked at the theatre, the letter that said that the President of the United states would be visiting ford's theatre quickly he put a plot into works. First he went to get accomplices and they too would kill someone that night. When the time had come to Booth snuck into the President’s box, not even noticed he pulled out a gun and shot a bullet into the left side and under the left ear of the President's head. That didn’t kill the President, yet. When Booth tried to leave he was stopped by General Henry Rathbone, they had a knife fight while trying to stop both of them from leaving, although Booth got away jumping from the President's box and onto the stage shouting "Sic Semper Tyrannis" (Chasing Lincoln's Killer, by James L. Swanson.)
before. “There have been threats against Lincoln’s life ever since he was first elected. Gift
Abraham Lincoln reported how a cruel and oppressive ruler could take over the American political system from within. He said, “What! Think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar,
Son of noted actor Junius Brutus Booth and one of ten children, John Wilkes Booth was born on May 10, 1838 near the town of Bel Air, Maryland (Historynet.com). At the ripe age of seventeen, he made his first stage appearance, following in the footsteps of his father. Booth became expert at interpreting Shakespearian works. As a result of that, his roles were mainly in plays like Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and other plays by Shakespeare. Although he rarely prepared for his roles, his dark and muscular appearance made him a desirable candidate for many characters.
John Wilkes Booth infamously known for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln was himself an interesting personality. The man was a well-known American stage actor at the Ford’s theatre, Washington. Booth believed slavery was a part of the American way of life and strongly opposed president Lincoln’s view on abolition of slavery in the United States.
Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt were both effective peacemakers, but Lincoln focused on creating peace in America while Theodore Roosevelt focused on foreign countries. When Lincoln became president the northern and southern states erupted into conflict over issues such as states’ rights and slavery (“Causes of the Civil War”). As the North and South fought, Lincoln did not only fight to help the North win, but sought out to reunite the North and South while abolishing slavery at the same time. When the Civil War was won by the North Lincoln avoided any hatred towards the Southern people and encouraged the Northern people to accept them back with. In a conversation with a woman who believed that the Southerners should be “destroyed” Lincoln told the woman “...am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" (Lincoln Quote 10/19/07). Unfortunately, Lincoln never got his chance to oversee the reunion...
Perhaps, one of the most interesting things to note about Lincoln's killer was the president would have recognized him instantly, if he had just turned around. John Wilkes Booth was born in a log cabin just outside of Bel Air, Maryland May 10, 1838. His family consisted of his father Tunis Booth, mother Mary Ann Holmes; they would bear 10 children. The Booth name was known for acting from John's family. He is considered to be America's first great actor. John's most known brother Edwin was quick to follow in his father's footsteps. He often practiced in the yard and was ridiculed by John and this was the beginning of a bitter rivalry. Also the house was full of alcoholism and bouts of depression. The family was often without the father as his drinking and acting kept him away. He was often under the influence when he was on stage and displayed many attributes of his son but, John never seen his father on stage. His mother also had a dream of her son's future. It showed John meeting a gypsy and he was told, " you'll die young... You've got in your hand a thundering crowd of enemies-not one friend-you'll make a bad end... You'll have a fast life-short, but a grand one." John knew this and it sometimes troubled him. Then in 1852, his dad died and John went to attend St. Timothy's Hall military school in Catonsville, Maryland. It was here that John showed his sympathy for the South when he led a revolt against the mostly northern faculty.
John Brown was born on May 9, 1800 in Torrington Connecticut. When he was about five years old, his father moved the family to Hudson Ohio. There, John was filled with the heavy anti-slavery sentiment that was present in that area. This, combined with personal observations of the maltreatment of blacks and the influence of Calvinism, started John Brown on his crusade to abolish slavery. While still living in Hudson he married Dianthe Lusk and began to raise a large family. To support his family he worked as a farmer, tanner, and surveyor. In 1849, John Brown moved with his second wife Mary Ann Day, and their seven children to North Elba. He planned to aid the free blacks living in Garrit Smith’s colony, dubbed “Timbucto';, adjust to the hardships of farming in the Adirondacks. After realizing the impossibility of this task, John left, and followed the abolitionist movement to Kansas where five of his sons were already stationed. Here in Kansas, Brown continually struggled to become financially secure, but gained “a reputation as a ferocious opponent of slavery'; (John Brown’s Raid). This reputation was greatly enhanced when Brown and his sons led a brutal mission against the proslavery population, which resulted in five innocent proslavery settlers being mutilated and murdered. After staying in Kansas for a while longer, Brown returned to the North where he gave many speeches and fund raising meetings based on the abolishment of slavery.
Dilorenzo, Thomas J.. The Real Lincoln: a new look at Abraham Lincoln, his agenda, and an unnecessary war. Roseville, Calif: Prima, 2002
resulted in respiratory failure, while hospitalized at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He was interred next to his wife in
Richard Pryor, born December 1, 1940, had his first introduction into the life of the performing arts when he was twelve as a cast member of the play Rumpelstiltskin. His comedic ability was noted and he was showcased at many talent shows and small venues. Later on in his career, Pryor attempted to entertain his audience by playing the piano and singing—however, to much avail as his audience preferred him telling jokes instead. Pryor moved to New York in 1963 and thrived in clubs and venues as a stand-up comedian. From there, he performed alongside many popular comedians at the time and eventually, in 1966, Richard Pryor found himself in the film industry where he prospered tremendously.