The list of world leaders assassinated throughout history is pretty long. The killings happened because the leaders supported a particular cause or opposed a certain group of people. There have also been times when an assassin attempted to kill a leader, but failed. But many leaders were not fortunate in escaping their deaths because their assassinations were manipulated and well-planned. These events in the past resulted in a lot of insecurity among people and created havoc.
Now, let’s investigate five of the leaders who were killed by assassins.
Tragic Deaths of Prominent World Leaders
1. Abraham Lincoln – The U.S.
Lincoln was the 16th president of the U.S. His efforts to abolish slavery were the main reason behind his assassination. John Wilkes Booth, a stage actor, was his assassin and he was an advocate of slavery. Lincoln was shot in the head while he was watching a play at Ford’s Theatre. Booth didn’t surrender, and some days after the assassination, the Federal troops shot him dead.
Abraham Lincoln was the 20th president of the U.S.
- A. True
- B. False
2. Mahatma Gandhi – India
Mahatma Gandhi won India’s freedom after a long battle with the British who ruled over the country for several years. He encouraged and preached non-violence. Before he became the “Father of the Nation,” he was a lawyer. This self-made man led the Indian independence movement and was followed by the majority of people in India. The country got its freedom on the 15th of August, 1947.
Gandhi usually conducted a multi-faith prayer meeting at the Birla House in New Delhi. On 30th January 1948, when he was on his way to the dais, a man called Nathuram Vinayak Godse shot him in the chest (3 times). Gandhi died sometime later. But even today, countless people around the world, including many leaders, continue to worship this simple-yet-dignified man.
3. Marie Francois Sadi Carnot – France
Carnot served as the president of France from 1887 to 1894. He was elected the president during the country’s uncertain times. Carnot was another one of the famous political figures who were assassinated. When he was at the peak of popularity, he was stabbed in the liver shortly after a speech in Lyon. His assassin was Sante Geronimo Caserio, an Italian anarchist.
Carnot had an elaborate funeral ceremony. France was in grief for quite some time after his death.
4. Park Chung-hee – South Korea
Park, South Korea’s third president, was the target of many assassination attempts. Kim Jae-gyu used to be Park’s friend and security chief. He’s said to be responsible for the assassination, which took place during an argument at a dinner. However, there are too many controversies regarding the motive behind the assassination. South Koreans refer to the assassination as the “10.26 incident” or just “10.26” because the president was killed on the 26th of October.
5. John F. Kennedy – The U.S.
Kennedy was another one of the notable world leaders who were assassinated. He was the president of the U.S. during its golden years. On the 22nd of November, 1963, the president was at a campaign in Dallas, when he was hit by two gunmen. A man named Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested, but he too was killed by another man. There have been several conspiracy theories revolving around the president’s assassination. The day John F. Kennedy was assassinated has been referred to as “the day America lost its innocence.”
And that’s the end of our list of world leaders assassinated throughout history. Although they met tragic deaths, they still continue to live in the hearts of people, and their names are etched in history forever.