Lewis Payne

Lewis Payne, alias Lewis Powell, was an associate of Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, who made an attempt on Secretary of State William Seward's life on the same night, April 14, 1865, by breaking into his bedroom and stabbing him repeatedly. A neckbrace worn by Seward helped to save his life.

Related Topics:
Abraham Lincoln's assassin - John Wilkes Booth - Secretary of State - William Seward - April 14 - 1865

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Payne was born in Alabama and served in the Confederate Army at the start of the Civil War. Later, towards the end of the war, Payne served for the Union Army. Some historians suspect he was a spy for the Confederates. Payne, Booth and others also planned to kill Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant, though those attempts never took place. Payne was excecuted on July 7, 1865, for the attempt on Seward's life.

Related Topics:
Alabama - Confederate Army - Union Army - Andrew Johnson - Ulysses S. Grant - July 7 - 1865

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In January 1992, Payne's skull was discovered stored at the Smithsonian Anthropology Department. Two years later the skull was re-interred at the Geneva Cemetery in Seminole County, Florida, next to the grave of his mother.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~