Daily Archives: April 14, 2025

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln mortally wounded at Ford’s Theatre 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln assassination at 14:49; shot fired at 15:36)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, approximately 10:13 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head near point blank range tonight after entering the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre in Washington during a performance of Our American Cousin. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln mortally wounded at Ford’s Theatre 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865) →

The Lincoln party arrives at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln arrives at 14:07)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 8:30 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — President Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris arrived at Ford’s Theatre in Washington tonight and settled by into the presidential box. Continue reading The Lincoln party arrives at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865) →

Booth instructs fellow conspirators to kill VP Johnson, Seward 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Booth instructors fellow conspirators at 13:39)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 7:00 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — Actor John Wilkes Booth met for a final time with all his fellow conspirators tonight, instructing Lewis Powell to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward at his home, George Atzerodt to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at his residence, the Kirkwood Hotel, and David E. Herold to guide Powell to the Seward house and then out of Washington to rendezvous with Booth in Maryland. Continue reading Booth instructs fellow conspirators to kill VP Johnson, Seward 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865) →

Severe dust storm crosses central Plains 90 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1935)

1930s


Video: 'Black Sunday - Decades TV Network'

(Sunday, April 14, 1935, 4:00 p.m. CST; during the Great Depression) — The “Black Sunday” dust storm descended upon the central Plains this afternoon, turning a sunny afternoon into total darkness. Continue reading Severe dust storm crosses central Plains 90 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1935) →

Booth learns Lincoln will attend play tonight at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 14, 1865, afternoon at 13:20-13:39)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, at around noon; during the American Civil War) — When actor John Wilkes Booth dropped by Ford’s Theatre today in Washington, D.C., to pick up his mail today, he learned that President Abraham Lincoln and Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant (and their respective wives) would be attending a performance of the British hit comedy Our American Cousin that evening (the Grants would bow out at the last minute, replaced by Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris, daughter of New York Senator Ira Harris).

American flag flies over Fort Sumter again 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 14, 1865, at 11:34)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, noon; during the American Civil War) — Four years to the day after lowering the Fort Sumter Flag in surrender to Confederate forces, Major General Robert Anderson of the U.S. Army returned to the ruined fort to raise the flag he had lowered at the outbreak of war in 1861.

500,000 view FDR’s final march in Washington 80 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'The funeral procession for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt April 14, 1945'

(Saturday, April 14, 1945, 11:20 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — Along streets that seemed heavy with a still and severely controlled grief, and which were silent but for the somber intermittent hymns of the military bands and the soft footfalls of marching service men and women, the body of Franklin D. Roosevelt was carried today upon a black caisson of honor back to the White House for the official farewell of the United States and of all the friendly world. Continue reading 500,000 view FDR’s final march in Washington 80 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1945) →

Two die in gallows for ‘In Cold Blood’ killings 60 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1965)

1960s


Video: '50 Years After Execution'

(Wednesday, April 14, 1965, 12:41/1:19 a.m. CST) — The state of Kansas hanged Richard Hickock and Perry Smith this morning for the 1959 murders of Herbert Clutter, his wife, Bonnie, and two of their children, Nancy and Kenyon as described in Truman Capote’s 1966 non-fiction book In Cold Blood.