05/01/2026
Over the course of several hours on April 27, 1865, a detailed identification and autopsy occurred over the body of John Wilkes Booth aboard the U.S.S. Montauk anchored off the Washington Navy Yard. The assassin's body was identified by multiple Washingtonians who knew the famous actor on sight. The most definitive identification was done by Dr. John Frederick May, who had removed a small tumor from Booth's neck two years earlier. Without looking at the assassin's neck, Dr. May described the scar his procedure had left to the Surgeon General, who was assisting with Booth's identification and autopsy. A scar was found on the body in the exact place and of the same appearance as Dr. May described. Though Dr. May noted the great change that had come upon Booth's face due to his 12 days on the run and the past 24 hours of being transported to Washington, post-mortem, he was unequivocal in his conclusion: "I have no doubt that it is the person from whom I took a tumor, and that it is the body of J. Wilkes Booth."
While photographer Alexander Gardner was on board and took a picture of Booth's arrested accomplice, David Herold, the decision was made not to photograph Booth's decaying co**se. Instead, Gardner sketched the scene of the autopsy where Booth's damaged vertebrae were removed, and this drawing was later published in Harper's Weekly.
