U.S. President William McKinley dies in Buffalo, New York of gunshot wounds inflicted by assassin 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 14 1901)

1900s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Assassination of William McKinley'

(Saturday, September 14, 1901, 2:15 a.m. EST; during the Assassination of William McKinley) — William McKinley, 25th President of the United States, died today at the Milburn House, the large home of the Pan-American Exposition’s president, John G. Milburn, at 1168 Delaware Avenue, in Buffalo, New York, brought down by infection and gangrene from gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin eight days earlier.

McKinley was the third American president to be assassinated (after Lincoln in 1865 and Garfield in 1881).

McKinley, who was 58 years old, was shot twice at close range on Sept. 6, 1901, by anarchist Leon Czolgosz while on a visit to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.

McKinley initially appeared to be recovering from his wound. On Sept. 7, 1901, he seemed in good shape, relaxed and talking with his doctors and well-wishers. His wife came to visit.


Video: 'The Assassination of William McKinley: HipHughes On Location'

Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, believing the crisis had passed, left Buffalo with his family for a hiking vacation in the Adirondacks.

But McKinley’s condition steadily worsened. On Sept. 13, 1901, he told his doctors, “It is useless, gentlemen; I think we ought to have prayer.” As he faded away, the president whispered the words to the hymn that 11 years later was played on the Titanic as it sank in the Atlantic after striking an iceberg: “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

A bulletin at 6:15 p.m. EST read, “The president’s physicians report that his condition is most serious in spite of vigorous stimulation. … Unless it can be relieved the end is only a question of time.”

Having been informed of the president’s deteriorating condition, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was rushing to Buffalo from his family’s cabin near Mount Marcy, located 375 miles away in the high-peaks region of the Adirondacks, at the time of McKinley’s death.

Roosevelt would not be informed of McKinley’s death until 5:22 a.m. EST. He would finally arrived in Buffalo at 1:30 p.m. and take the oath of office as the 26th President of the United States two hours later.