Boston Corbett

Thomas P. "Boston" Corbett (1832 – presumed dead 1894) was the Union Army soldier who shot and killed Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. He disappeared after 1888 and is believed to have died in Minnesota in 1894, but this is unproven. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 512 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2864 × 3352 pixel, file size: 916 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Permission PD (This summary was created using Commons SumItUp) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 512 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2864 × 3352 pixel, file size: 916 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Permission PD (This summary was created using Commons SumItUp) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages... Death in absentia describes a legal finding of death if a person has been missing for more than a certain period of time. ... Animated map of secession, Civil War and re-admission:  States of the Union  Territories of the Union (including occupied territory)  States of the Confederacy  Territories claimed by Confederacy During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the twenty-three states of the United States... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865) assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. ... Missing persons redirects here. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Largest metro area Minneapolis-St. ...

Early life

Corbett was born in London, England. His family emigrated to New York City in 1839. He eventually took on the trade of a hatter in Troy, New York. There has been speculation that the use of mercury as part of the hatter's trade was the cause of Corbett's later mental problems. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... A hatter is a maker or seller of hats. ... Looking west down Broadway at downtown Troy. ... This article is about the element. ...

Corbett married, but his wife died in childbirth. Following her death, he moved to Boston, and continued working as a hatter. He became a born-again evangelical Christian and changed his name to Boston. Trying to imitate Jesus, he began to wear his hair very long. On July 16, 1858, in order to avoid the temptation of prostitutes, Corbett castrated himself with a pair of scissors. Afterward, he ate a meal and went to a prayer meeting, before going for medical treatment. Boston redirects here. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Castration (also referred as: gelding, neutering, orchiectomy, orchidectomy, and oophorectomy) is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testes or a female loses the functions of the ovaries. ...

Enlisted in the Union army

Corbett joined the Union army at the outbreak of the American Civil War. He re-enlisted three times and eventually obtained the rank of Sergeant in the 16th New York Cavalry. He was captured by the Confederate Army on June 24, 1864, and was held captive at Andersonville prison. He was eventually exchanged and returned to his unit. He later testified for the prosecution in the trial of the commandant of Andersonville, Captain Henry Wirz. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Andersonville prison, located at Camp Sumter, was the largest Confederate military prison during the American Civil War. ... The execution of Henry Wirz before the US Capitol as the trap door is sprung Captain Henry Wirz (November 1822 – November 10, 1865) was the only Confederate soldier executed in the aftermath of the American Civil War for war crimes. ...

Assigned to pursue John Wilkes Booth

Wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth, John Surratt, and David Herold (1865)

On April 24, 1865, Corbett was one of the cavalrymen sent to pursue John Wilkes Booth, who had assassinated Abraham Lincoln and was still at large. On April 26, they surrounded Booth and his accomplice, David Herold, in a tobacco barn on the Virginia farm of Richard Garrett. The barn was set on fire to try to force them out. Herold surrendered, but Booth remained inside. Corbett was positioned by a large crack in the barn wall. He saw Booth moving about inside and shot him with his Colt revolver despite Secretary of War Stanton's desire that Booth be taken alive. Booth was struck in the neck, the bullet injuring his spinal cord, and he died a few hours later. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 332 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 1805 pixel, file size: 401 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 332 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 1805 pixel, file size: 401 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth and accomplices for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. ... John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865) assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. ... John Surratt, in Zouave uniform John Surratt (April 13, 1844 - April 21, 1916), son of Mary Surratt, was accused of plotting to kidnap U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. ... David Herold, Washington Navy Yard, 1865 Execution of the four persons condemned as conspirators (Mary E. Surratt, Lewis T. Powell, David E. Herold, and George A. Atzerodt), July 7, 1865, at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. David Edgar Herold (16 June 1842 – 7 July 1865) conspired with John Wilkes... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1865 (MDCCLXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865) assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... David Herold, Washington Navy Yard, 1865 Execution of the four persons condemned as conspirators (Mary E. Surratt, Lewis T. Powell, David E. Herold, and George A. Atzerodt), July 7, 1865, at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. David Edgar Herold (16 June 1842 – 7 July 1865) conspired with John Wilkes... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Rampant Colt—The original logo of Colts Firearms Colts Manufacturing Company is a firearms manufacturer founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1847 by Samuel Colt in order to produce revolvers, which Colt held the patent on, during the Mexican-American War. ... The Spinal cord nested in the vertebral column. ...

Corbett was immediately arrested for disobeying orders, but the charges were later dropped by the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. Later, Stanton said, "The rebel is dead. The patriot lives." Corbett received his share of the reward money, amounting to $1,653.84. The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... The Running Machine An 1864 cartoon featuring Stanton, William Fessenden, Abraham Lincoln, William Seward and Gideon Welles takes a swing at the Lincoln administration. ...

In his official statement, Corbett claimed he shot Booth because he thought Lincoln's assassin was getting ready to use his weapons. This was denied by other witnesses. When asked later why he did it, he said that "God Almighty directed me."

Boston Corbett

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1108x1383, 274 KB)Boston Corbett source This image comes from the National Archives and Records Administration, the vast majority of whose images and documents are in the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1108x1383, 274 KB)Boston Corbett source This image comes from the National Archives and Records Administration, the vast majority of whose images and documents are in the public domain. ...

Civilian life after the Union army

Shortly after being discharged from the army, Corbett returned to his trade of being a hatter, first in Boston, and later in Connecticut and New Jersey. Official language(s) none (de facto English) Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport[2] Largest metro area Hartford Metro Area[3] Area  Ranked 48th in the US  - Total 5,543[4] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

His later life involved increasingly erratic behavior. In 1875, he threatened several men with a pistol at a soldier's reunion in Caldwell, Ohio. In 1878, he moved to Concordia, Kansas, where he lived in a hole dug into a hillside. In 1887, he was appointed assistant doorkeeper of the Kansas House of Representatives in Topeka, Kansas. Overhearing a conversation in which the legislature's opening prayer was mocked, he jumped to his feet, pulled out his revolver, and waved his gun. No one was hurt but Corbett was arrested, declared insane, and sent to the Topeka Asylum for the Insane. On May 26, 1888, Corbett escaped from the asylum. He went to Neodesha, Kansas, and stayed briefly with Richard Thatcher, a man he had met during his imprisonment at Andersonville in the Civil War. When he left, he said he was heading for Mexico. Corbett possibly settled in the forests near Hinckley, Minnesota and died in the Great Hinckley Fire that took place there on September 1, 1894. There is no definitive proof of his demise, but the name "Thomas Corbett" appears on the list of the dead and missing. Caldwell is a village located in Noble County, Ohio. ... Concordia is a city in Cloud County, Kansas, United States. ... The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Kansas. ... This article is about the state capital of Kansas. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Neodesha is a city in Wilson County, Kansas, United States. ... Hinckley is a city located in Pine County, Minnesota. ... On September 1, 1894, after a two-month drought, several fires started in the pine forests of Pine County, Minnesota. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

There is a Boston Corbett roadside monument just outside of Concordia, Kansas.

See also

• John Wilkes Booth
• Abraham Lincoln
• American Civil War
• Union army
• List of people who have disappeared

John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865) assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. ...

External links

• Boston Corbett: The Man Who Killed John Wilkes Booth
• Boston Corbett at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-14
• Kansas Photo Tour of Boston Corbett Memorial