20 Assassination Attempts That Almost Changed History
The course of history often hinges on singular moments. While successful assassinations have altered the world’s trajectory, failed attempts have equally significant implications for how our present might have been dramatically different.
Let’s examine 20 assassination attempts that nearly reshaped the course of history.
Andrew Jackson
On January 30, 1835, Richard Lawrence approached President Jackson outside the Capitol with two pistols – both misfired. The 67-year-old president responded by beating his would-be assassin with a cane.
Multiple bystanders had to restrain Jackson to prevent him from causing serious harm to Lawrence. The incident marked the first attempted assassination of a U.S. president.
Queen Victoria
In 1840, Edward Oxford fired two pistols at the pregnant Queen Victoria’s carriage – missing both times. The failed attempt actually increased the Queen’s popularity among her subjects.
Oxford was found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent decades in an asylum. This marked the first of eight attempts on Victoria’s life during her reign.
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Napoleon Bonaparte
In 1800, royalist conspirators placed an explosive-laden cart along Napoleon’s expected route to the opera. The ‘infernal machine’ detonated too late, killing several bystanders but missing Napoleon’s carriage by seconds.
The incident allowed Napoleon to crack down on his republican and royalist opponents, consolidating his power.
Abraham Lincoln
In February 1861, just before his inauguration, Lincoln evaded the ‘Baltimore Plot’ – a sophisticated conspiracy to kill him during a train transfer. Detective Allan Pinkerton uncovered the plot and secretly transported Lincoln through Baltimore at night.
The president-elect arrived safely in Washington, though many initially mocked him for his seeming paranoia.
Theodore Roosevelt
During a 1912 presidential campaign speech, John Flammang Schrank shot Roosevelt in the chest. The bullet penetrated Roosevelt’s steel eyeglass case and 50-page speech before lodging in his rib.
Roosevelt continued speaking for 84 minutes before seeking medical attention, beginning with ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot.
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Adolf Hitler
On July 20, 1944, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg placed a briefcase bomb in Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair headquarters. An officer inadvertently moved the briefcase behind a thick table leg, which shielded Hitler from the blast.
The resulting crackdown eliminated much of the German military’s internal resistance, while the failed attempt strengthened Hitler’s belief in his ‘divine protection.’
Charles de Gaulle
In 1962, the OAS terrorist group attempted to assassinate President de Gaulle over Algerian independence. Despite firing 140 bullets at his car, the skilled driving of his security team allowed him to escape unharmed.
De Gaulle famously remarked, ‘They shoot like pigs.’ The incident inspired Frederick Forsyth’s novel ‘The Day of the Jackal.’
Pope John Paul II
On May 13, 1981, Mehmet Ali Ağca shot the Pope multiple times in St. Peter’s Square. Despite critical injuries, John Paul II survived and later visited Ağca in prison to forgive him.
The assassination attempt strengthened the Pope’s resolve in opposing communist regimes, though debates about potential Soviet involvement continue.
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Ronald Reagan
On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot President Reagan outside the Washington Hilton. A ricocheting bullet lodged near Reagan’s heart, but he initially walked into the hospital under his own power.
His famous quip to surgeons – ‘I hope you’re all Republicans’ – exemplified his composure during the crisis.
Mikhail Gorbachev
In August 1991, hardline communists attempted to seize power while Gorbachev vacationed in Crimea. Though not directly threatened with assassination, his detention and isolation represented a serious threat to his life.
The coup’s failure accelerated the Soviet Union’s dissolution, fundamentally reshaping global politics.
Harry Truman
On November 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists attempted to storm Blair House – Truman’s temporary residence. Despite killing one Secret Service agent, they failed to reach the president.
The incident led to major security upgrades and influenced U.S. policy toward Puerto Rican independence movements.
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Vladimir Lenin
In August 1918, Fanny Kaplan shot Lenin as he left a Moscow factory. Though he survived, the assassination attempt exacerbated his health problems and possibly contributed to his early death.
The incident intensified the Red Terror against perceived enemies of the revolution.
Benito Mussolini
In 1926, fifteen-year-old Violet Gibson shot at Mussolini, only grazing his nose. The failed attempt allowed Mussolini to strengthen his control, presenting himself as protected by divine providence.
Gibson spent the rest of her life in psychiatric institutions, while the incident boosted Mussolini’s cult of personality.
King Zog of Albania
During his reign, King Zog survived over 55 assassination attempts – a possible world record. The most dramatic occurred in 1931, when he returned fire at his would-be assassins in Vienna.
Zog’s survival skills and personal involvement in gunfights enhanced his reputation among Albanians, though he ultimately died in exile.
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Gerald Ford
In September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme attempted to shoot President Ford in Sacramento. The gun failed to fire because no round was chambered.
Seventeen days later, Sara Jane Moore fired at Ford in San Francisco but missed. These incidents led to expanded Secret Service protection protocols.
Bob Marley
In 1976, unknown gunmen stormed Marley’s house two days before a peace concert in Jamaica. Despite being shot, Marley performed at the concert, declaring ‘The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?’
The attempt highlighted Jamaica’s political violence but enhanced Marley’s legendary status.
Zhou Enlai
In 1955, Kashmir Princess, a plane carrying Chinese officials, exploded mid-flight. Zhou had been scheduled to travel but changed plans last minute.
The attempt, likely by Taiwanese agents, strengthened Zhou’s position within China’s leadership and influenced Sino-Indian relations.
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Franz Ferdinand
In June 1914, before Gavrilo Princip’s successful assassination, another conspirator threw a bomb at Ferdinand’s car in Sarajevo. The bomb bounced off and exploded under the following vehicle.
Had this first attempt succeeded, World War I might have unfolded very differently – if at all.
Leonid Brezhnev
In 1969, Soviet army officer Viktor Ilyin fired at a motorcade carrying cosmonauts, believing Brezhnev was inside. He killed the driver but missed his intended target.
The incident remained secret for decades, while security around Soviet leaders intensified dramatically.
Indira Gandhi
In 1975, a railway worker attempted to ram Gandhi’s car with a train engine. The plot failed due to timing issues, but its audacity led to increased security measures.
Gandhi survived this attempt only to be killed by her own bodyguards nine years later.
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History’s Turning Points
These near-misses remind us how individual actions can reshape global events. While these attempts failed, each left lasting impacts on security protocols, political movements, and public consciousness.
They serve as sobering reminders of both human vulnerability and resilience in the face of violence.
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