Mudd Day – December 20, 2024

History of Mudd Day

American surgeon Samuel Alexander Mudd Sr. (December 20, 1833 – January 10, 1875) was imprisoned for collaborating with Booth on the assassination of President Lincoln.
Mudd worked as a doctor and tobacco planter in Southern Maryland. His business suffered greatly from the Civil War, particularly after Maryland outlawed slavery in 1864. He initially encountered Booth, who had plans to abduct Lincoln, in that year, and Mudd was frequently spotted with three of the conspirators. However, his position in the narrative, if any, remains unclear.

Mudd is known for harboring Booth in his home after Lincoln was assassinated. Because of this, he was accused of being one of the conspirators of the assassination. Lincoln was assassinated by Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. on April 14, 1865. Booth broke the fibula in his leg while jumping from the President’s box seat to the stage. He met with Herold and they rode by horseback to the home of Mudd, which was located about five miles north of Bryantown, Maryland.

Booth was taken upstairs, where Mudd splinted his leg. He then allowed Booth and Herold permission to stay the night. The following morning, Mudd procured a set of crutches from a nearby carpenter for Booth to use as he recovered from his wound. After spending at least twelve hours in Mudd’s house, Booth removed his mustache and left in the late afternoon. Two weeks later, Union cavalry in Virginia discovered Booth and Herold in a tobacco shack. While Booth resisted, Herold surrendered. Booth was hiding in a shed, which was set on fire. He was coerced to emerge and then shot dead right away. For years, there has been controversy over Mudd’s behavior and his involvement in the crime.