People are thirsting over a historical figure they’re calling ‘sexy Death Row Bill Hader’
Lewis Powell, member of the Lincoln assassination plot, 1865, attempted, unsuccessfully, to assassinate US Secretary of State William H Seward. (The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)
Lewis Powell, member of the Lincoln assassination plot, 1865, attempted, unsuccessfully, to assassinate US Secretary of State William H Seward. (The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)
Some people are getting all hot and bothered by an updated photo of a young man, taken shortly before he was executed for his part in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
Dubbed the “sexy death row Bill Hader”, Lewis Powell was quite the looker, thanks to a chiselled jawline and endearing smile – seen in a colourised photo dating back to when he was awaiting execution for his part in the plot to kill the 16th US president – Queerty pointed out.
He was only 21 when he conspired with John Wilkes Booth and others to murder not just Honest Abe but also vice-president Andrew Johnson and secretary of state William Seward, and so topple the government.
According to an Instagram post that shared the colourised photo, Powell was captured at the boarding house of another conspirator, Mary Surratt. He protested her innocence but both were hanged on 7 July, little more than two months after Lincoln assassination at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC.
The story is captivating enough, but comments under the post are mostly from people thirsting over young Powell.
“Lord, forgive me,” one comment, with more than 500 likes, read. Another user posted a gif of SpongeBob’s Squidward shaking, with the text “Oh no, he’s hot.”
Someone else said: “So, that’s not Bill Hader,” referring to Powell’s striking resemblance to the American comedian and actor. Another fan made the same connection but took it further by calling him “sexy Death Row Bill Hader”.
Others said he reminded them of a young Christopher (Superman) Reeves.
On a totally different tack, another poster decided he looked a bit like a hipster and quipped: “He’s thinking about inventing craft beer.”
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
