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Clara Harris
Clara Hamilton Harris (September 9, 1834 – December 24, 1883) was an American socialite. She and her then fiancé, and future husband, Henry Rathbone, were the guests of President Abraham Lincoln the night he was shot at Ford's Theatre. Rathbone's mental state deteriorated after the assassination, and in 1883, Harris was murdered by him.
Harris was born in Albany, New York, one of four children of U.S. Senator Ira Harris of New York, and his second wife Louisa Harris (née Tubbs). Harris' mother Louisa died in 1845. On August 1, 1848, Ira Harris married Pauline Rathbone (née Penney), the widow of Jared L. Rathbone, a successful merchant who later became the mayor of Albany. Jared and Pauline Rathbone had four children (two of whom, Anna and Charles, died in infancy) including sons, Jared Jr. and Henry.
Although Harris and Henry Rathbone were raised in the same household and were related by their parents' marriage, they fell in love and later became engaged. Their engagement was interrupted when the American Civil War broke out in 1861 and Henry Rathbone joined the Union Army that year and became major in 1869 upon joining the 5th United States Infantry.
On April 14, 1865, Rathbone and Harris accepted an invitation to see a play at Ford's Theatre from President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. The couple, who had been friends with the President and his wife for some time, were invited after Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia, Thomas Eckert and several other people had declined Mrs. Lincoln's invitation to the play.
While they watched the play Our American Cousin in the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre that evening, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln in the back of the head, and stabbed Rathbone as Rathbone came at him. Rathbone lost a considerable amount of blood which stained Harris' white dress, face and hands when she attempted to aid him.
Despite his wounds, Rathbone escorted Mary Lincoln to the Petersen House, where doctors had taken the unconscious Lincoln; Rathbone soon after passed out from loss of blood. Harris arrived at the house soon after and held Rathbone's head in her lap while he drifted in and out of consciousness. Surgeons now realized that Booth had severed an artery just above Rathbone's elbow, cutting him nearly to the bone. He was taken home while Harris stayed with Mary Lincoln. Harris later wrote:
Poor Mrs. Lincoln, all through that dreadful night would look at me with horror & scream, "Oh! my husband's blood, my dear husband's blood ... It was Henry's blood, not the president's, but explanations were pointless.
Lincoln died the following morning. Although Rathbone recovered, he blamed himself for Lincoln's death, and spent the remainder of his life battling delusions and physical symptoms including constant headaches.
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Clara Harris
Clara Hamilton Harris (September 9, 1834 – December 24, 1883) was an American socialite. She and her then fiancé, and future husband, Henry Rathbone, were the guests of President Abraham Lincoln the night he was shot at Ford's Theatre. Rathbone's mental state deteriorated after the assassination, and in 1883, Harris was murdered by him.
Harris was born in Albany, New York, one of four children of U.S. Senator Ira Harris of New York, and his second wife Louisa Harris (née Tubbs). Harris' mother Louisa died in 1845. On August 1, 1848, Ira Harris married Pauline Rathbone (née Penney), the widow of Jared L. Rathbone, a successful merchant who later became the mayor of Albany. Jared and Pauline Rathbone had four children (two of whom, Anna and Charles, died in infancy) including sons, Jared Jr. and Henry.
Although Harris and Henry Rathbone were raised in the same household and were related by their parents' marriage, they fell in love and later became engaged. Their engagement was interrupted when the American Civil War broke out in 1861 and Henry Rathbone joined the Union Army that year and became major in 1869 upon joining the 5th United States Infantry.
On April 14, 1865, Rathbone and Harris accepted an invitation to see a play at Ford's Theatre from President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. The couple, who had been friends with the President and his wife for some time, were invited after Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia, Thomas Eckert and several other people had declined Mrs. Lincoln's invitation to the play.
While they watched the play Our American Cousin in the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre that evening, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln in the back of the head, and stabbed Rathbone as Rathbone came at him. Rathbone lost a considerable amount of blood which stained Harris' white dress, face and hands when she attempted to aid him.
Despite his wounds, Rathbone escorted Mary Lincoln to the Petersen House, where doctors had taken the unconscious Lincoln; Rathbone soon after passed out from loss of blood. Harris arrived at the house soon after and held Rathbone's head in her lap while he drifted in and out of consciousness. Surgeons now realized that Booth had severed an artery just above Rathbone's elbow, cutting him nearly to the bone. He was taken home while Harris stayed with Mary Lincoln. Harris later wrote:
Poor Mrs. Lincoln, all through that dreadful night would look at me with horror & scream, "Oh! my husband's blood, my dear husband's blood ... It was Henry's blood, not the president's, but explanations were pointless.
Lincoln died the following morning. Although Rathbone recovered, he blamed himself for Lincoln's death, and spent the remainder of his life battling delusions and physical symptoms including constant headaches.