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Acting Debut
When Booth turned 17, he made his acting debut in Baltimore, with a role in a production of Shakespeare's Richard III. His early performances were such a hit that Booth was soon invited to tour all over the country with a Shakespearean acting company based in Richmond, Virginia. -
Joining the Militia
When abolitionist John Brown seized the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry in hopes of instigating a slave revolt in 1859, Booth joined the Richmond Grays, a militia unit sent to aid in his capture. He witnessed Brown’ execution for treason against Virginia a few weeks later. -
Arrested
The spring of 1862 Booth was arrested. He made anti-government remarks in front of a provost Marshall. Booth said, "So help me holy God! my soul, life, and possessions are for the South. " -
Performing for Linclon
At Washington's Fords theater Booth preformed the Marble Heart. In the audience was a very special guest, it was Abraham Lincoln himself. After that performance Booth never performed for Lincoln again. It was the only performance Lincoln saw with Booth in it. -
Business
In the year 1864 Booth invested in an oil company. He soon stopped when it didn't bring in as much money as he hoped. In late 1864 Booth was losing all his savings and soon goes into debt. -
A Fresh Start
In 1865 John stopped his studies for the military. He decided to follow his brothers Junius Jr. and Edwin into a career in acting. He made his first performance for Shakespeare’s Richard III at Charles Street Theater in Baltimore. -
Kidnapping
In March of 1865 Booth developed a plan to kidnap Lincoln. He hired six southern sympathizers to do the job for him. His plan failed when the president failed to show up in Washington D.C. where they had thought he would be. -
Backup Plan
On April 9, 1865 Lee surrenders to Grant. It ruined the hope for Booths kidnapping plot. But Booth had another plan, instead of killing just the president he would also kill the vice president, cabinet members and perhaps Grant as well. -
Killing Lincoln
On the evening of April 14, 1865 president Lincoln went to see a play at Ford's theater. John Wilkes Booth went up to the balcony shot Lincoln and quickly leaving the scene, breaking his leg in the process. -
Death
John Wilkes Booth was hiding out in a barn . Members from the 16th New York Calvary went looking for him. They soon find him in a barn in the Garrets farm. Booth does not come out so they are force to set fire to the barn Booth still does not come out so a solider takes a shot hopping to hit Booth and hits him in the neck. Booth the gets carried out of the barn placed on the porch dying of the same gunshot that killed Lincoln
