Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography, & More · Gary Arndt

The Plot to Steal the Body of Abraham Lincoln

March 5, 2026·15 min·1 clip

A counterfeiting gang plotted to ransom Lincoln's corpse for $200,000 and their engraver's freedom.

This episode details the 1876 plot by a counterfeiting gang to steal Abraham Lincoln's body from his tomb in Springfield, Illinois, aiming to ransom it for money and a prisoner's release. It explores the failed theft attempt, the minimal legal consequences, and how the incident led to years of secrecy and multiple reburials of Lincoln's remains.

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