What was Edwin Booth famous for?

Answer 1

In 1863 or 1864 Edwin Booth, John Wilkes Booth's older a renowned , well known, and very popular actor, helped Lincoln's eldest son, Robert Lincoln, during an accident when Robert, slipped from a train platform, preventing him from falling and perhaps serious injury though, not likely, but possibly, death.

While Robert was traveling from New York to Washington DC, he was on a platform at a railroad station in New Jersey, and grouped in with a crowd of passengers, waiting to purchase sleeping car tickets, and while waiting his turn, he had leaned against the car of the train. All of the sudden, the train started to move, and this caused Robert to twist, lose his balance entirely, and fall off the platform, and into the open space. Suddenly, someone grabbed the back of Robert's coat collar and pulled him up, back onto the platform, safely. The man who had aided Robert was Edwin Booth. When Robert turned to thank the man, he immediately recognized Booth, as the acclaimed and well known actor. Robert called out to Booth, by name and thanked his gallant rescuer.

Less than two years later, Edwin's brother, John Wilkes Booth, shot and killed Robert's father, President Lincoln ironically while the President was watching a play.

Booth never knew the identity of the man he helped, that is until he received a letter from a friend, received a letter from a friend, Colonel Adam Badeau, then serving as an officer on Grant's staff. The date was near the end of the Civil War, and prior to the assassination of the President. Robert had too, briefly served under Grant, and knew Colonel Adam Badeau. When Robert learned that Colonel Adam Badeau was a close friend of Edwin Booth's, Robert relayed the story to Badeau, and Grant, as well, while praising Booth's quickly thinking. Colonel Adam Badeau, wrote a letter to Booth, and offered his compliments for having performed such a deed, relaying the story Robert had told. Apparently, Grant too,. Wrote Booth, subsequently, and offered his praise.

When Edwin's brother assassinated the President, Robert's father, it nearly destroyed him. In one single sweep in time, Edwin had lost his brother, the esteemed status of his family name, and his President.

Edwin had to leave public life, for over two years, after the assassination, his friends stated, that they feared Edwin would go mad, and start drinking again, which he had refrained from doing since 1863. Edwin was able to resume his career, and life and put the assassination behind him. He later said two things got him through this horrible period; the love of his friends, and the knowledge that he might have saved the saved the slain president's son from severe injury or death on that train station platform.