A President Surrounded by Chaos, Mystified by Magic
President Lincoln's childhood fascination with magic continued into his time in the White House. Learn more about his love of mind-boggling feats and some of the magicians he encountered.Head-Tilting History • October 11, 2021 • Updated October 13, 2021
from the American Battlefield Trust
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President Abraham Lincoln was a relentlessly curious man, seeking knowledge and entertainment at every turn. With the many lines he read and extraordinary sights he saw, it is no wonder he was known as an enchanting storyteller. But it wasn’t always stories that Lincoln offered to an audience! As a young man, he was quite taken with magic tricks and would perform rudimentary ones of his own for anyone willing to watch. His fascination grew with age, even continuing into his time in the White House. During this time, his path crossed with several magicians, including Horatio “Harry” Cooke, “Wyman the Wizard” and “Signor Blitz,” as well as Compars (Carl) and Alexander (Leon) Herrmann.
Horatio “Harry” Cooke
In 1864 Lincoln met an enchanting young soldier that went by the name of Horatio “Harry” Cooke. After enlisting with the 28th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Cooke had become known not only for his beautiful penmanship (he had written correspondence for Generals Grant, Rosecrans, Sherman, and Sheridan) and expert marksmanship, but also for shocking escapes and other tricks…. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE