Edwin Thomas Booth was an American actor who toured extensively across the United States and the major capitals of Europe, performing the plays of William Shakespeare. In 1869, he founded Booth’s Theatre in New York City. Many historians consider him the greatest American actor of his era, and some regard his portrayal of Hamlet as the finest of the nineteenth century.
His achievements, however, are often overshadowed by his younger brother, John Wilkes Booth, the actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Edwin Booth was born in Bel Air, Maryland, into the theatrical Booth family. He was the son of the famous English-born actor Junius Brutus Booth. Edwin was named after Edwin Forrest and Thomas Flynn, two of his father’s fellow actors. He was the older brother of John Wilkes Booth.
The untold story of Edwin Booth centers on an incident that took place in 1864 or 1865, when he saved the life of Robert Lincoln, the son of President Abraham Lincoln. The event occurred on a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey, though the exact date remains unclear. Some believe it happened in late 1864 or early 1865. Robert Lincoln later recalled the incident in a letter written in 1909.
According to his account, a group of passengers was waiting late at night to purchase sleeping berths from the conductor, who stood on the station platform at the entrance to the train car. The platform was level with the floor of the car, and there was a narrow gap between the platform and the body of the train. As the crowd pressed forward, Robert found himself pushed against the side of the car while waiting his turn.
As the train began to move, the motion threw him off balance. He slipped and fell with his feet into the open space between the platform and the car, completely helpless. In that moment, he was grabbed by the collar of his coat and pulled quickly back to safety on the platform. When he turned to thank his rescuer, he saw that it was Edwin Booth, whose face was familiar to him. Robert expressed his gratitude and addressed Booth by name.
Booth did not learn the identity of the man he had saved until several months later. He received a letter from a friend who was an officer on the staff of General Ulysses S. Grant. The officer had heard the story from Robert Lincoln, who had since joined the Union Army and was also serving on Grant’s staff. In the letter, the friend offered his congratulations to Booth for the heroic act.
It has been said that knowing he had saved the life of President Lincoln’s son was a source of comfort to Edwin Booth after his brother assassinated the president. Edwin Booth suffered a mild stroke in 1891, and his health declined from that point. He suffered another stroke in April 1893 and died on June 7, 1893. He was buried beside his wife in his apartment at The Players Club. His bedroom in the club has remained untouched since his death.