William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901) was the 25th President
of the United States. He was elected twice, in 1896 and 1900, but was assassinated
on September 6, 1901 while he and his wife attended the Pan-American Exposition
in Buffalo, New York. McKinley was greeting the public in the concert hall when,
standing in line was Leon Frank Czolgosz (below) waiting with a pistol concealed
by a handkerchief in his right hand. The man fired twice at the president.The first
bullet grazed his shoulder, but the second went through his stomach, pancreas,
and kidney before lodging in his back.

McKinley’s doctors believed he would recover while he was convalesing at the home
of the exposition’s director. His condition gradually worsened and he began to go
into shock. On the afternoon of September 14, 1901, eight days after he was shot, President William McKinley died from gangrene at the age of 58.

President McKinley delivering a speech at the Pan-American Exposition on
September 5, 1901

Depiction of McKinley’s assassination by Leon Czolgosz

Leon F.  Czolgosz was charged with and convicted of first-
degree murder, given the death penalty and was executed
by electric chair on October 29, 1901 at the age of 28.