Historical FigureAmerican1838 – 1865
Wilkes Booth
Assassin of President Abraham Lincoln
Biography
An American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the famous Booth family of actors.
Quick Facts
Category
Historical Figure
Nationality
American
Born
1838
Died
1865
Thinking about the name
Wilkes
English origin
“A surname derived from medieval personal names like Wilkin or Wylic, with -es indicating ancestry or belonging. Wilkes carries literary and historical associations—notably from the 18th-century politician John Wilkes. As a given name, it suggests intellectual heritage and distinctive character.”