The True Story Of Manhunt's Boston Corbett & His Role In John Wilkes Booth's Capture

This article contains spoilers for Manhunt.

Summary Thomas "Boston" Corbett played a key role in capturing John Wilkes Booth in Manhunt episode 5.

Corbett's risky decision to shoot Booth led to the assassin's death in a barn standoff.

After Booth's death, Corbett's mental health deteriorated, leading to his disappearance and tragic demise, ending his turbulent story.

While Manhunt episode 5 continues delving into Secretary of War Edwin Stanton's fight for civil rights and his search for John Wilkes Booth, the episode also introduces a brand-new character to the Manhunt cast who will play a significant role in the defeat of President Abraham Lincoln's killer. His introduction begins at a Union base camp, where soldiers discuss the "Mad Hatter," a soldier who previously worked as a hatmaker and tends to be alone, talking to himself. By the end of the episode, this "Mad Hatter" has proven his loyalty, passionately leading the search for John Wilkes Booth.

Before the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth, the "Mad Hatter" was simply known as Thomas "Boston" Corbett. Born in London, Corbett immigrated to the United States in 1840. Around the time of the Civil War, Corbett became known for his strange behaviors, attributed to mental illness. However, in retrospect, historians have theorized that Corbett may have been affected by the mercury often used in hats at that time. Therefore, his hatmaking profession likely led to his behaviors. In 1861, Corbett joined the Union army and was eventually in the ideal spot to search for the escaped Booth.

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Boston Corbett & His Regiment Was Sent To Capture John Wilkes Booth

Corbett was part of a team ordered to find John Wilkes Booth

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At the time of Abraham Lincoln's death on April 14, 1865, Boston Corbett and his regiment were stationed in Vienna, Virginia. They were promptly asked to search for Booth, who had fled into the night. Days later, they took part in Lincoln's funeral procession, along with other Union regiments, and they had barely left the Capitol before they were ordered to follow up on a lead about Booth. Eventually, on April 24th, 1865, the call went out that Corbett's regiment was going to capture John Wilkes Booth.

As shown in Manhunt, Corbett was eager to volunteer for the job.

It took two days for Corbett and the other soldiers to track down and corner John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice, David Herold. As noted in Manhunt episode 5, they found the assassin residing at the farm of a man named Richard Garrett. Corbett and the soldiers surrounded the barn in which Booth and Herold were staying. Though Herold surrendered almost immediately, Booth refused to exit the barn. Notably, he shouted out, "I will not be taken alive!." This led to a standoff between Booth and the Union soldiers, and in particular, Boston Corbett.

Corbett Fired The Shot That Ended Up Killing John Wilkes Booth

Corbett saw Booth through a crack in the barn and shot him

With Booth's capture at a standstill, the Union soldiers had to get creative to try and get Booth to leave his hiding place. First and foremost, they set fire to the barn to try and lure him out. Surprisingly, Booth continued to resist, despite the flames surrounding him. Notably, the soldiers stood in intervals around the barn, and Boston Corbett was in a spot where a crack stood out in the barn. Through the crack, he could see Booth. Corbett asked his commander if he could sneak into the barn through the crack and try to subdue Booth himself.

Though the commander said no to Corbett's request, Corbett ended up being the man to take out John Wilkes Booth anyway. After discovering the crack, the commander stuffed hay through the crack to try and get the flames nearer to Booth. Soon after, Booth appeared directly in the crack, and Corbett could see him loading his gun. Corbett made a quick decision in that moment. He raised his gun and shot Booth through the crack. Corbett's bullet entered Booth's head behind his ear. Though the gunshot would eventually kill him, he suffered immense pain and paralysis beforehand.

Many believed that the way Booth died was a sort of cosmic justice, as his bullet wound was in the same place as Abraham Lincoln's.

What Happened To Boston Corbett After John Wilkes Booth's Death

Corbett's condition worsened after Booth's death

After Corbett killed John Wilkes Booth, he was discharged from the Union Army in August, 1865. He returned to Boston and continued his hatmaking business. He later moved to Danbury, Connecticut and Camden, New Jersey. Corbett struggled to keep a job due to his fanatical behavior. He would often stop work to pray for his coworkers. Seemingly, Corbett's behavior only worsened with time, and because of what he had done. Southern sympathizers threatened Corbett, and many claimed that Booth was never even killed. Corbett became paranoid and violent, leaving his reputation in shambles.

Manhunt Episode Release Schedule Episode Release Date Episode 1: "Pilot" 3/15/2024 Episode 2: "Post Mortem" 3/15/2024 Episode 3: "Let the Sheep Flee" 3/22/2024 Episode 4: "The Secret Line" 3/29/2024 Episode 5: "A Man of Destiny" 4/5/2024 Episode 6: "Useless" 4/12/2024 Episode 7: "The Final Act" 4/19/2024

Ultimately, Corbett's story ends with his disappearance. After chasing citizens with a revolver, Corbett was arrested and quickly labeled mentally ill. He was sent to the Topeka Asylum for the Insane, but eventually left on horseback. He briefly stayed with a friend in Kansas, before claiming that he was going to Mexico. No one ever saw Boston Corbett again. There is a theory that he died in the Great Hinckley Fire, however these claims are unconfirmed. Ultimately, his role in Manhunt could not save the doomed Boston Corbett.