1871 Medal Commemorating George Robinson
United States 1871
On the night of President Lincoln’s assassination, John Wilkes Booth’s co-conspirators attempted to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. The co-conspirators’ attempts failed. In the case of Secretary Seward, this was thanks to the actions of George Robinson, a soldier detailed to guard Seward. In 1871 the U.S. Congress awarded this medal to Robinson “for his heroic conduct” that saved the life of Secretary Seward on that night in 1865. One side of the medal features an artists’ rendition of the physical struggle between George Robinson and the would-be assassin, Lewis Paine.
This image is in the public domain and no permission is required to use it. Please credit the National Museum of American Diplomacy as the original source, and provide a link back to the item page where possible.
Most of our items are donations, and we cannot always confirm the copyright or trademark status of photographs, prints, drawings, and other artistic works that may be depicted in these images.
Please contact us at NMAD@state.gov for any permissions or usage questions.
MLA Format
1871 Medal Commemorating George Robinson. 1871. National Museum of American Diplomacy, https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/1871-medal-commemorating-george-robinson
Chicago Format
1871 Medal Commemorating George Robinson, 1871, National Museum of American Diplomacy, Washington, DC, https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/1871-medal-commemorating-george-robinson
APA Format
(1871). 1871 Medal Commemorating George Robinson [Object]. National Museum of American Diplomacy, Washington, D.C., United States. https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/1871-medal-commemorating-george-robinson