GREAT EMANCIPATOR DIES IN ROOMING HOUSE BED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of April 15, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln died at the Petersen Rooming House* here in the Nation's Capital.
The President was pronounced dead at 7:22 a.m. as the result of a pistol shot to
the head as he sat in his box with his wife, Mary, at Ford's Theater the previous night.
Attending physician Dr. Charles A. Leale** determined that Mr. Lincoln would not survive a trip back to the Executive Mansion and so ordered that he be taken to the nearest bed. The Petersen Rooming House, now called "The House Where Lincoln Died," is located across the street from the theater.
Dr. Leale held Mr. Lincoln's hand. The young physician later said that he did so hoping the President "in his blindness" might know "he...had a friend."
*Petersen Rooming House is located at 516 10th Street across from Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. It was the home of William & Anna Petersen in April 1865 when the mortally wounded POTUS was carried inside & placed on a bed in a back bedroom. The PRH is currently undergoing remodeling & will re-open in June 2018.
**Dr. Charles Augustus Leale (1842-1932) was born in New York City & was a 23 year old US Army surgeon at the time of Lincoln's assassination. CAL was seated 40 ft. from Lincoln's box when the shot was fired. Dr. Leale left the army in 1866 & established a private practice specializing in charitable cases in NYC.
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of April 15, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln died at the Petersen Rooming House* here in the Nation's Capital.
The President was pronounced dead at 7:22 a.m. as the result of a pistol shot to
the head as he sat in his box with his wife, Mary, at Ford's Theater the previous night.
Attending physician Dr. Charles A. Leale** determined that Mr. Lincoln would not survive a trip back to the Executive Mansion and so ordered that he be taken to the nearest bed. The Petersen Rooming House, now called "The House Where Lincoln Died," is located across the street from the theater.
Dr. Leale held Mr. Lincoln's hand. The young physician later said that he did so hoping the President "in his blindness" might know "he...had a friend."
*Petersen Rooming House is located at 516 10th Street across from Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. It was the home of William & Anna Petersen in April 1865 when the mortally wounded POTUS was carried inside & placed on a bed in a back bedroom. The PRH is currently undergoing remodeling & will re-open in June 2018.
**Dr. Charles Augustus Leale (1842-1932) was born in New York City & was a 23 year old US Army surgeon at the time of Lincoln's assassination. CAL was seated 40 ft. from Lincoln's box when the shot was fired. Dr. Leale left the army in 1866 & established a private practice specializing in charitable cases in NYC.
SOURCES
"The Assassination: Death of the President," by Champ Clark, Time-Life Books, Alexandria, VA, 1987.
"The Death of President Lincoln, 1865," www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/
"The Petersen House", National Park Service, www.nps.gov/
"The Assassination: Death of the President," by Champ Clark, Time-Life Books, Alexandria, VA, 1987.
"The Death of President Lincoln, 1865," www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/
"The Petersen House", National Park Service, www.nps.gov/
Ford's Theater
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2016)
The House Where Lincoln Died
10th Street, Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2007)
