4. Lincoln Was Watching ‘Our American Cousin’
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The play, written by Tom Taylor, was a popular farce featuring the character Asa Trenchard, portrayed by actor Harry Hawk. During the third act, as the audience laughed at a particularly humorous line, John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential box and assassinated President Lincoln. This tragic event is detailed on Ford’s Theatre’s official site (fords.org).
