Abraham Lincoln , the 16th President of the United States , was assassinated Killing by well-known stage actor John Wilkes Booth on April 14 , 1865 , while attending Participation the play Participation `` Our American Cousin '' at Ford 's Theatre in Washington , D.C .

Occurring near the end of the American Civil War Military_operation , the assassination Killing was part of a larger conspiracy intended by Booth to revive Recovering the Confederate cause by eliminating the three most important officials of the United States government .

After a dramatic initial escape Escaping , Booth was killed Killing at the climax of a 12-day manhunt .

Stonewall Jackson was part of the troops guarding the arrested Brown , and John Wilkes Booth was a spectator at his execution .