May 10, 1838 — John Wilkes Booth born near Bel Air, Md.
August 1855 — Booth makes stage debut in Shakespeare play in Richmond, Va.
Spring of 1862 — Booth arrested in St. Louis for making anti-government remarks.
Summer of 1864 — Booth begins making plans to kidnap Abraham Lincoln; recruits at least six men to join the conspiracy.
March 15, 1865 — Group meets at Gautier’s Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington to discuss Lincoln abduction.
March 17, 1865 — Booth’s attempt to kidnap Lincoln outside the Campbell Hospital near Washington fails after Lincoln changes plans.
April 14, 1865 — Booth shoots and kills Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.
April 26, 1865 — Booth and David Herold found by Union cavalry in a tobacco farm in Port Royal, Va., where the barn is set on fire and Booth dies after being shot.
