Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis—the American Civil War—preserving the Union while ending slavery and promoting economic and financial modernization.
Lincoln is remembered as one of America’s greatest heroes for preserving the Union and ending slavery during the American Civil War; however, he has also been criticized for being too lenient toward rebellious states (like Missouri).
John Wilkes Booth was a member of the Confederate secret service and had been plotting to kidnap Lincoln for some time before he decided to carry out his plan. He had been waiting for an opportunity to kill Lincoln when he would be alone, but it did not present itself until that night when both of his parents were away from home.
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. He was shot in the head while watching a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died the following day at 7:22 p.m., shortly after being taken to a boarding house across from Ford’s Theater.
