Timeline: John Wilkes Booth

May 10, 1838

Birth

John Wilkes Booth was born to Junius Brutus Booth Booth and Mary Ann Holmes.
He was the 9th of 10 children. In case anyone wants a full physical description of the man refer to the image and his eyes were hazel and he had a tattoo of his initials, JWB, on his left hand between his thumb and index finger. [I'm a writer so such trivial detials are important.]

Period: Jan 1, 1840 to Dec 31, 1849

Attended Multiple Schools

Attended multiple schools in Baltimore Bel Air.
He is sometimes said to be uneducated because of his unsteady enrollment, but he was actually an intelligent student. Although some observed that he was slow to pick up a subject, he was thorough and determined. He would be the only one who could pass the monthly exams without studying.

Period: Jan 1, 1852 to Dec 31, 1853

Attended St. Timothy's Hall Academy

Attended St. Timothy's Hall Academy in Catonsville, Maryland

Nov 10, 1852

His father died.

Jul 1, 1855

Tudor Hall and Farm put up for rent (click for note)

The month and year are known. I did not have the exact date.

Aug 14, 1855

Appeared 1st Time on Professional Stage

acted in the play Richard III in Charles Street Theatre, Baltimore

Period: Jan 1, 1857 to Dec 31, 1858

Full time carreer as actor

Commences his full time acting carreer at Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphia

Period: Jan 1, 1858 to Dec 31, 1860

Acted at Marshall Theatre Stock Company

Resident actor with Marshall Theatre stock company, Richmond

Aug 27, 1858

Acts at Holliday Street Theatre in Baltimore

Jan 1, 1859

Attends his sister's wedding (click for note)

The year is known but the date and month aren't. Attended Asia’s wedding. He returned to Richmond immediately after the wedding; he was not pleased, and the strange words he whispered to her were, "Always bear in mind that you are a professional steppingstone. Our father's name is a powertheatrical-in the land. It is dower enough for any struggling actor."

Period: Nov 1, 1859 to Dec 31, 1859

Serves in Virgina Volunteer Militia

He witnessed the execution of John Brown, a Northern terrorist.
Booth was happy that justice was brought to the man but respected the way he faced his face.

Period: Jan 1, 1860 to Dec 31, 1860

Becomes famous acting in plays around the nation.

Jan 1, 1863

Arrested for "Disloyalty" (click for note)

The year is known but the date and month aren't. arrested for saying he "wished the President and the whole damned government would go to hell." Released when he took an oath to the Union and paid a fine. If you're a Libertarian, or even a Republican, I'm sure you can relate to this.

Nov 9, 1863