Edward P. Doherty

Edward Paul Doherty (September 26, 1838 – April 3, 1897) was an Irish-Canadian-American U.S. Civil War officer who formed and led the detachment of soldiers that captured and killed John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of United States President Abraham Lincoln, in a Virginia barn on April 26, 1865, twelve days after Lincoln was fatally shot.

Doherty was born September 26, 1838 in Wickham, Canada East, to immigrant parents from Sligo, Ireland. His birth year has long been incorrectly believed to have been 1840, however it was clearly recorded as 1838 in Wickham's parish records.

He came to New York in 1860 where he was living when the American Civil War broke out. He enlisted in a 90-day militia unit and was assigned as a Private to Company A of the 71st New York Volunteers on April 20, 1861. Assigned to Colonel Ambrose Burnside's 2nd Brigade of Brigadier General David Hunter's 2nd Division, he was captured by the Confederates during the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the American Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas, Virginia. While a prisoner, he made a daring escape. Ultimately, the 71st Regiment, along with Doherty, mustered out on August 9, 1861.

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