April 15 is Tax Day, Date of Lincoln’s Death. Assassination Links to Florida

April 15 is Tax Day, Date of Lincoln’s Death. Assassination Links to Florida

Today is April 15, and if the date rings a bell, there’s a good reason: April 15 is the deadline to file your income taxes or file for an extension. Read more at BocaVibe.com.

But 161 years ago, April 15 was memorable for another reason: The date marks when President Lincoln died after being shot in the head the night he was assassinated. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was shot by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C.

Lincoln’s death was a national tragedy, and it led to a wave of mourning across the country. The assassination also sparked a desire for revenge against those responsible, including Booth, who was killed by Union soldiers just 12 days after Lincoln’s death.

The Assassination Connection to Florida

So how does this relate to Florida? Well, John Wilkes Booth had connections to the state. Born in Maryland, Booth spent time in Georgia and Florida before his assassination attempt on Lincoln.

• Born in Leesburg, Virginia, but raised in Maryland, where he developed an interest in acting and drama.
• Booth moved to Georgia in 1861, where he joined the Confederate Army and became a cavalryman.
• In 1864, Booth traveled to Florida, where he met with other Confederate sympathizers and planned his assassination attempt on Lincoln.

After Lincoln’s death, Booth fled to the South, where he was eventually tracked down by Union soldiers in Virginia. He was killed on April 26, 1865, while hiding in a barn in Maryland.

A Legacy Lives On

Today, as we file our taxes and reflect on the significance of April 15, let’s remember the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, who gave his life for our country. His assassination was a national tragedy, but it also led to a renewed commitment to preserving our democracy.

In Florida, where Booth spent time before his assassination attempt, we can still visit historic sites and landmarks that remember this pivotal moment in American history.

Official city info: City of Boca Raton.

Source: Original Report