On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shaking
hands at the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo, New York,
when a 28-year-old anarchist named Leon Czolgosz approached
him and fired two shots into his chest. The president rose slightly
on his toes before collapsing forward, saying “be careful how you
tell my wife.”
The president died on September 14 after his wound became
infected. Caught in the act, Czolgosz was tried, convicted, and
executed by the State of New York seven weeks later on
October 29, 1901.
President McKinley greeting well-wishers at a reception in
the Temple of Music minutes before he was shot.
Leon F. Czolgosz (May 5, 1873 – October 29, 1901)
Site of McKinley murder marked by "x" in lower right.