Clara Harris
Clara Hamilton Harris was an American socialite. Harris and her fiancé, Major Henry Rathbone, were the guests of President Lincoln and First Lady Mary Lincoln when John Wilkes Booth fatally shot the President at Ford's Theatre in April 1865.
Why did Rathbone pass out?
Shortly thereafter, he passed out due to blood loss. Harris arrived soon after and held Rathbone's head in her lap while he lay semiconscious. When surgeon Charles Leale, who had been attending Lincoln, finally examined Rathbone, it was realized that his wound was more serious than initially thought. Booth had cut him nearly to the bone and severed an artery. Rathbone was taken home while Harris remained with Mary Lincoln as the president lay dying over the next eight hours. This death vigil lasted through the night until Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m.
Who invited Rathbone and Harris to see a play?
On April 14, 1865, Rathbone and Harris accepted an invitation from Lincoln and his wife to see a play at Ford's Theatre. Rathbone and Harris had been friends with the president and his wife for some time and were invited after Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, and several others had declined Mrs. Lincoln's invitation.
What weapon did Booth use to attack Rathbone?
Dagger used by Booth to attack Rathbone.
How many children did Rathbone have?
He married Harris on July 11, 1867, and the couple had three children: Henry Riggs (born February 12, 1870, who later became a U.S. Congressman ), Gerald Lawrence (born August 26, 1871), and Clara Pauline (born September 15, 1872).
Where did Rathbone live?
Rathbone and his family relocated to Germany, where his mental health continued to decline. On December 23, 1883, he attacked his children in a fit of madness. He fatally shot and stabbed his wife, who was attempting to protect the children. He stabbed himself five times in the chest in an attempted suicide. He was charged with murder, but was declared insane by doctors after he blamed the murder on an intruder. He was convicted and committed to an asylum for the criminally insane in Hildesheim, Germany. The couple's children were sent to live with their uncle, William Harris, in the United States.
Who wrote Rathbone and Harris?
Rathbone and Harris are also the subjects of Henry and Clara (1994, published by Ticknor & Fields), a historical fiction novel by Thomas Mallon.
Who is the author of the book Worst Seat in the House?
The biography of Henry Rathbone, his experience at the Lincoln Assassination and the murder of Clara Harris is covered in the non-fiction book Worst Seat in the House: Henry Rathbone 's Front Row View of the Lincoln Assassination by Caleb Stephens.
How did Henry Rathbone kill his wife?
On December 23, 1883, Henry Rathbone attacked his family in a fit of madness. He fatally shot his wife in the head and then attempted to kill the children, but a groundskeeper prevented him from doing so. Rathbone then stabbed himself five times in the chest in an attempted suicide.
Why did Rathbone pass out?
Shortly after arriving at the Petersen House, Rathbone passed out due to loss of blood. Harris arrived at the house soon after and held Rathbone's head in her lap while he drifted in and out of consciousness. A surgeon who had been attending the President finally examined Rathbone and realized his wound was more serious than initially thought. Booth had severed an artery located just above Rathbone's elbow and had cut him nearly to the bone. Rathbone was taken home while Harris decided to stay with Mrs. Lincoln. Harris later stated:
What happened to Rathbone after the shooting?
When Rathbone attempted to apprehend Booth after the shooting, Booth slashed Rathbone with a dagger from left elbow to shoulder. Rathbone lost a considerable amount of blood which stained Harris' white dress, face and hands when she attempted to aid him.
Why did Rathbone find it difficult to hold a job for an extended period of time?
Due to his behavior , Rathbone found it difficult to hold a job for an extended period of time. Every year on the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination, journalists would contact the couple with questions about Lincoln's death, furthering Rathbone's feelings of guilt. Harris later wrote to a friend:
How many children did Henry Riggs have?
The couple had three children: Henry Riggs (born February 12, 1870), who later became a U.S. Congressman from Illinois, Gerald Lawrence (born August 26, 1871) and Clara Pauline (born September 15, 1872). Rathbone, who had risen to the rank of colonel, resigned from the Army in December 1870.
Where did Rathbone die?
He was convicted and committed to an asylum for the criminally insane in Hildesheim, Germany, where he died on August 14, 1911. The couple's children were sent to live with their uncle, William Harris, in the United States.
Where was the dress that Harris wore stored?
Unable to bring herself to wash or destroy it, she eventually stored it in a closet in the family's summer home near Albany. After experiencing what she claimed was a visit from Lincoln's ghost, Harris had the closet in which the dress was stored covered with bricks.
What were the problems with Henry Rathbone?
Rathbone’s behavior was becoming increasingly unstable and over the years he was plagued by health problems, including chronic heart palpitations. Shown in the presidential booth of Ford’s Theatre, from left to right, are assassin John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Clara Harris, and Henry Rathbone.
Why did Rathbone pass out?
Rathbone and Clara tended to the First Lady as Lincoln was being looked over, when, quite unexpectedly, Major Rathbone passed out, due to the loss of blood, and he was taken back to his fiance’s home. While there, Rathbone became delirious, talking about the shooting and his guilt about not being able to apprehend Booth.
What happened to Lincoln in 1865?
Lincoln in February 1865, about two months before his death. The two men tussled and Booth tried to stab Rathbone in the chest with a large knife he was carrying, but Rathbone was able to deflect the blade by pushing Booth’s arm upwards—in the process suffering a deep gash in his left arm, between his elbow and shoulder.
How many times did Rathbone stab himself?
Painting depicting Lincoln’s assassination. Clara, trying to stop him, was fatally shot and stabbed. Rathbone then stabbed himself five times in the chest, a suicide attempt that failed.
What happened on April 14th?
The night of April 14th was supposed to be a night of celebration in the nation’s capital.
What happened to the couple who shared Lincoln's theater box?
The Misfortune that Haunted the Couple who Shared Lincoln’s Fateful Theater Box. By now, we all know that President Abraham Lincoln met his end at Ford’s Theater, just after the end of the Civil War. But most people don’t know that Lincoln wasn’t the only casualty that evening. In fact, the events of that night set the stage for an unspeakable ...
Who shot Lincoln in the back of the head?
President Lincoln gave a modest bow, then the couples took their seats. It was shortly after 10 o’clock when John Wilkes Boot h, armed with a revolver and knife, entered the Presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of his head. Rathbone jumped up and attempted to prevent Booth from fleeing.
What was wrong with Henry Rathbone?
This time was different though, as Harris thought. Henry was ill and when asked what was wrong, Rathbone simply said it was dyspepsia which is a chronic ailment of the stomach. By the fall of 1882, Rathbone was 45 years old and was constantly plagued by mysterious medical problems.
Where did Rathbone and Harris meet the President?
Around 8:20 P.M on April 14th Major Rathbone and Clara Harris met the President and First Lady at the Harris residence on the “corner of 15th and H Streets.”. From there, Rathbone and Harris rode with the Lincoln’s to the theater. By the time they arrive the play, Our American Cousin, had already begun.
Why did Rathbone go to the Presidential Box?
Major Rathbone assumed Lincoln’s wound was mortal so he hurried to the door of the Presidential Box to seek medical aid. The door, as Rathbone soon discovered, had been barred shut by the assassin with a piece of plank, which was secured in the wall on one end and the other tight against the door.
Where was Rathbone seated in Act 3 Scene 2?
Around 10:15 P.M the play was in Act 3, scene 2 and it was at this point John Wilkes Booth slipped in through the door of the Presidential Box.
Why did Pope recall Rathbone being stripped of his clothes?
Pope recalled Rathbone being stripped of his clothes and how pale he looked. Due to the loss of blood, Henry became delirious and continued talking about the shooting of Abraham Lincoln. The Assassination of the president was something that haunted Rathbone for the rest of his life.
Why did Henry retire from the army?
It was in 1870 that Henry retired from the Army due to his sickness. After Rathbone’s visit to Hamilton Harris’s office, Rathbone and his family set sail to Germany. After their arrival Henry’s health continued to fail. He became depressed and some people called him erratic. His marriage to Clara also suffered more and was tense much of the time. One of the problems with Henry’s depression was he seemed to be under the impression Clara was leaving him and taking the kids.
Who assisted Mary Lincoln in the boarding house?
Mary Lincoln was assisted across the street by Major Rathbone and Clara. Mary would call out “oh!
When did Clara Harris marry Henry Rathbone?
Finally, Clara Harris and Henry Rathbone were married on July 11, 1867, and moved into an elegant 22-room home on the west side of Lafayette Square. They had three children, the eldest born on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in 1870.
How did Henry Rathbone kill his wife?
According to most accounts, before dawn on December 23, 1883, Henry Rathbone either entered or tried to enter the room where his children were sleeping. Clara, afraid that he might hurt them, coaxed him back to the master bedroom and closed the door. There, Henry shot his wife several times; Clara Harris Rathbone died on Christmas Eve at age 49. He then stabbed himself six times before the servants intervened. Once again, the gunshot victim died, while Henry survived his knife wounds.
Where did Clara Harris live?
When Clara Harris arrived with her family in Washington, DC in 1861, it was a small community. Many members of President Abraham Lincoln’s Cabinet lived on Lafayette Square. Secretary of State William Seward lived on the east side of the Square. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles lived on the north side. Clara lived with her family just off Lafayette Square at 15th and H streets.
What happened to Henry after he arrived at the boarding house?
Shortly after they arrived at the boarding house, Henry passed out and was taken by carriage to the Harris house. It is unclear how long Clara stayed with the first lady, but Dr. G.W. Pope later recalled that Clara was at home when he was called to tend to Henry, who lay stripped of his clothes and as pale as a corpse. Clara was calm, bringing water, towels and bandages as an Army surgeon stitched up Henry’s wound.
What time did the conspirators strike?
The conspirators were all to strike simultaneously at ten o’clock pm. Booth appears to have plotted the murders in the belief that the simultaneous assassination of three top government officials would throw the North and the Republican Party into chaos long enough for the Confederacy to reassemble.
What caused the audience to realize that Booth’s actions were not part of the show?
The women’s screams and Rathbone’s cries of “Stop that man!” caused the audience to realize that Booth’s actions were not part of the show. Some of the men in the audience chased after him when they noticed what was going on, but failed to catch him. Booth struck the man who was holding his horse in the forehead, leaped into the saddle and rode away into the night.
Who was Clara Harris?
Clara Harris was an American socialite. Harris and her then fiance Henry Rathbone were the guests of President Lincoln and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth fatally shot the President.
Overview
Henry Reed Rathbone (July 1, 1837 – August 14, 1911) was a United States military officer and diplomat who was present at the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Rathbone was sitting with his fiancée, Clara Harris, next to the president and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, when John Wilkes Booth entered the president's box at Ford's Theatre and fatally shot Lincoln in the head. When Rat…
Early life and military career
Henry Rathbone was born in Albany, New York, one of four children of Jared L. Rathbone, a merchant and wealthy businessman who later became Albany's first elected mayor, and Pauline Rathbone (née Penney). Upon his father's death in 1845, Rathbone inherited US$200,000 (equivalent to $5,800,000 in 2021). His widowed mother married Ira Harris in 1848. Harris was appointed U.S. Senator from New York after William H. Seward became Lincoln's Secretary of State. …
Lincoln assassination
On April 14, 1865, Rathbone and Harris accepted an invitation from Lincoln and his wife to see a play at Ford's Theatre. Rathbone and Harris had been friends with the president and his wife for some time and were invited after Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, and several others had declined Mrs. Lincoln's invitation.
Later life
Although Rathbone's physical wounds healed, his mental state deteriorated in the years following Lincoln's death as he anguished over his perceived inability to thwart the assassination attempt. He married Harris on July 11, 1867, and the couple had three children: Henry Riggs (born February 12, 1870), who later became a U.S. Congressman; Gerald Lawrence (born August 26, 1871); and Clara Pauline (born September 15, 1872).
Depictions
On film and television Rathbone has been portrayed by:
• Earl Schenck in The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln (1924)
• Lloyd Whitlock in The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
• Steve Darrell in Prince of Players (1955)
External links
• Henry Rathbone at Find a Grave