Booth, John Wilkes 1839-65
US assassin

Born in Baltimore, he became a successful actor in Washington DC. In 1865 he entered into a conspiracy to avenge the defeat of the Confederates, and shot President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Washington DC, on 14 April. He managed to escape to Virginia, but was tracked down and, refusing to surrender, was shot dead. He was the son of the actor Junius Booth and brother of Edwin Thomas Booth.

Bibliography: Gene Smith, American Gothic: The Story of America's Legendary Theatrical Family - Junius, Edwin, and John Wilkes Booth (1992)