Abraham Lincoln’s Son Was Saved by John Wilkes Booth’s Brother

In a remarkable twist of fate, Edwin Booth, the renowned stage actor and brother of John Wilkes Booth, saved the life of Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of President Abraham Lincoln, in a harrowing train incident during the height of the Civil War. This incredible story showcases the complex intertwining of the Booth and Lincoln families, and how a single act of heroism by Edwin Booth took on a profound and ironic significance in light of the tragic assassination of President Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth just months later.

The train incident occurred in 1863 or 1864, as Robert Todd Lincoln was traveling from New York to Washington. While waiting at a crowded train station in Jersey City, New Jersey, Robert accidentally slipped and fell into the narrow gap between the train and the platform. In a swift and courageous move, Edwin Booth grabbed Robert’s coat collar and pulled him to safety, saving him from certain injury or possibly even death. Robert, recognizing his savior, thanked Edwin Booth by name, unaware of the fateful connection that would soon link their two families forever.

Key Takeaways

• Edwin Booth, a famous actor, saved the life of Robert Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln’s son, in a train incident during the Civil War era.
• The incident occurred just months before John Wilkes Booth, Edwin’s brother, assassinated President Lincoln in April 1865.
• The heroic act by Edwin Booth took on a profound and ironic significance in light of the tragic events that followed.
• The story highlights the complex intertwining of the Booth and Lincoln families during a tumultuous period in American history.
• Robert Todd Lincoln recognized and thanked Edwin Booth for saving his life, unaware of the fateful connection that would soon link their families.

The Booth Brothers: A Tale of Two Actors

The Booth family was a renowned theatrical dynasty in 19th-century America, with several members achieving great success on the stage. Among them, Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth stood out as two of the most talented and influential actors of their time, albeit for vastly different reasons.

Edwin Booth, the elder of the two brothers, was widely considered the greatest actor of his era. His acting career spanned several decades, during which he earned acclaim for his powerful and nuanced performances in Shakespearean roles such as Hamlet, Richard III, and Iago. Edwin’s dedication to his craft and his ability to bring complex characters to life on stage made him a beloved figure in the theater world.

In 1869, Edwin Booth further solidified his legacy by founding Booth’s Theatre in New York City. This grand venue served as a showcase for his talents and those of other prominent actors of the time. The theater became a cultural landmark, attracting audiences from all walks of life who were eager to witness the magic of live performances.

Despite Edwin’s tremendous success and reputation, his younger brother, John Wilkes Booth, often overshadowed him in the annals of history. John Wilkes, also a talented actor, gained notoriety for a very different reason: his assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. This heinous act forever altered the course of American history and cast a dark shadow over the Booth family name.

Ironically, the brothers had shared the stage in a benefit performance of Julius Caesar just a year before the assassination. Edwin portrayed the role of Brutus, John Wilkes played Marc Antony, and their brother Junius took on the role of Cassius. This performance served as a testament to the Booth family’s acting prowess, but it also foreshadowed the tragic events that would later unfold.

The Fateful Encounter at the Train Station

A narrow escape occurred at the bustling Jersey City train depot while Robert Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln, was on vacation from Harvard University. The young Lincoln was traveling from New York to Washington, waiting in line for tickets on the crowded platform. As the train began to move, Robert found himself pressed against the train car, twisted off his feet, and falling into the dangerous gap between the platform and the car.

Fortunately, Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth, was also at the station that day. Booth was traveling to Richmond, Virginia, with his friend John T. Ford, the owner of Ford’s Theater. Witnessing Robert’s perilous situation, Edwin Booth quickly reached out and grabbed the young man’s coat collar, pulling him to safety and preventing a potentially tragic accident.

Years later, in a 1909 letter to Richard Watson Gilder, Robert Lincoln’s account of the incident expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Edwin Booth for saving him from serious injury or worse. This fateful encounter at the Jersey City train depot showcased the heroic actions of Edwin Booth, whose quick thinking and selflessness prevented a devastating outcome for the Lincoln family, unaware that his own brother would later be responsible for a national tragedy.

Lincoln’s Son Saved by Booth’s Brother: An Ironic Twist of Fate

The fact that Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth, saved the life of Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the president his brother would later assassinate, stands as a remarkable historical coincidence. This ironic twist of fate adds an intriguing layer to the tragic story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, which has been widely documented and verified by Robert Lincoln himself.

In the aftermath of the assassination, Edwin Booth was deeply affected by his brother’s heinous actions. The event drove him into temporary retirement from the stage as he grappled with the fallout. However, Edwin’s love for acting eventually drew him back, and he made his return in 1866, continuing his successful career in the theater.

Although Robert Lincoln and Edwin Booth never met again in person after the fateful incident at the train station, Lincoln expressed his gratitude for Booth’s heroic deed. In a letter, he wrote that he had a “most grateful recollection of his prompt action on my behalf.” This sentiment highlights the profound impact of Edwin’s split-second decision, which saved a life and forged an unlikely connection between two families that would be forever linked by tragedy. The Washington-Moscow hotline established during the Cold War serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and understanding, even in the face of adversity.