Edwin Booth. Perhaps the only…no, probably the only…make that, most definitely the only sibling of a presidential assassin (who shall remain nameless) who has a statue in NYC. Not to mention a Broadway theater named in his honor. And of course, a church stained glass window in his likeness.
His statue is located in Gramercy park, NYC’s only private park—it takes a key to get in—which he lived across the street from in The Players Club’s upper floor
He happened to have been America’s most renowned Shakespearean actor, which might explain why–rather than his presidential assassination kinship—there’s a statue portraying him as Hamlet, and why a Broadway theater is named for him
“Actor Contemplating a Mask”, the Edwin Booth Memorial Window by John La Farge” 1898
The Church of the Transfiguration, also known as “The Little Church Around the Corner” which has ties to the theater community. 1 E 29th Street, the NoMad neighborhood.
Below is an account of an incident that occurred in Jersey City as described in a letter published by The Century Magazine in 1909.
–Many of you (is anyone out there?) may be familiar with the following. But for those who are not, read on.
“The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name.”
The author was Robert Todd Lincoln recounting an incident that occurred about a year or two before his father was assassinated by Booth’s brother.
Okay, so maybe Edwin Booth deserves a church stained glass window.
P.S.
Robert Lincoln was nearby for 3 (of the 4) presidential assassinations.
- His father’s in 1865.
- As a member of President Garfield’s cabinet, he was an eyewitness to his assassination in 1881.
- At President McKinley’s invitation he was nearby, but not an eyewitness to, the assassination in 1901.