James O. Hall
Encyclopedia
James O. Hall was an amateur historian
who specialized in the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln
. He was widely regarded as one of the top experts on this matter, and is noted for having discovered a letter by John Wilkes Booth
, written on the morning of the murder, in which Booth attempted to justify his actions. He also argued that Samuel Mudd
was guilty of helping Booth.
His books include Come Retribution by William A. Tidwell, James O. Hall and David W. Gaddy; On the Way to Garrett's Barn—John Wilkes Booth & David E. Herold in the Northern Neck of Virginia, April 22–26, 1865; and The Surratt Family and John Wilkes Booth.
He served in the U.S. Army
as First Lieutenant during World War II
, then worked for the Department of Labor
. He was widowed and living in McLean, VA at his death. The James O. Hall Research Center at the Surratt House Museum
is named for him.
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
who specialized in the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. He was widely regarded as one of the top experts on this matter, and is noted for having discovered a letter by John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
, written on the morning of the murder, in which Booth attempted to justify his actions. He also argued that Samuel Mudd
Samuel Mudd
Samuel Alexander Mudd I, M.D. was an American physician who was convicted and imprisoned for aiding and conspiring with John Wilkes Booth in the 1865 assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. He was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson and released from prison in 1869...
was guilty of helping Booth.
His books include Come Retribution by William A. Tidwell, James O. Hall and David W. Gaddy; On the Way to Garrett's Barn—John Wilkes Booth & David E. Herold in the Northern Neck of Virginia, April 22–26, 1865; and The Surratt Family and John Wilkes Booth.
He served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as First Lieutenant during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, then worked for the Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
. He was widowed and living in McLean, VA at his death. The James O. Hall Research Center at the Surratt House Museum
Surratt House Museum
The Surratt House is a historic home located at 9110 Brandywine Road in Clinton , Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. It is a 2-story 19th-century wood-frame structure with clapboarding...
is named for him.