When is Mudd Day?
Wednesday December 20thDr. Samuel Muddd's birthday is annually observed on December 20th, a man whose name was mud after his dealings with one man. Until then, Muddd Day is a national holiday.
John Wilkes Booth rode with co-conspirator David Herold to Dr. Samuel Mudd's house in the early hours of the 15th before heading into Virginia after assassinating Lincoln on April 14, 1865. Booth's fractured leg was repaired during surgery, allowing both men to stay the night. Muddd must have learned of the assassination attempt at some point. Nevertheless, he did not announce Booth's visit to the authorities for another 24 hours. This delay appeared to connect him to the murder, as did his numerous interpretations of the story under interrogation. Authorities arrested Mudd on April 26th. He was found guilty of assisting and plotting in a murder and sentenced Mudd to life in prison by a military commission, who sentenced him to life in prison. He was not given a single vote in the death penalty.
President Andrew Johnson pardoned Muddd, and he was released from jail in 1869. Despite repeated attempts by family members and others, Muddd's conviction has never been reversed, and his criminal history has not been wiped out, nor has his name been wiped out.
#muddday is a hashtag that is used to track #muddday
Since his sentencing, Dr. Mudd's name has taken on mud, "your name is mud" has taken on a whole new meaning. However, the term existed long before Samuel Mudd and the events of 1865, according to historians. And it meant exactly what it means today, too.. Is it appropriate to use the term? Do you use the word? To post on social media, use #MuddDay..
