Historic Photo Gallery: 1850 to 1899
1860s
From left, the three sons of Junius Brutus Booth: Junius Brutus, Jr., Edwin and
John Wilkes. All known in the mid-1800s for their acting ability, the name
John Wilkes Booth became infamous on April 15, 1865 as Abraham Lincoln's assassin.
The assassination provoked strong public reactions against the theatrical
profession and the Booth family. Junius Brutus, Jr. and his brother-in-law
John Sleeper Clarke were arrested and jailed. Edwin Booth remained free, but
announced his retirement from the stage. (Photograph courtesy of the Theatre
Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia.)
« back next »
In This Chapter
« previous chapter: Beginnings to 1849 next chapter: 1900 to 1920 »
