Leon Czolgosz

Leon Frank Czolgsz (Polish pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʂɔwɡɔʂ]; May 5, 1873 – April 29, 1916) was a Polish-American Anarchist and former steel worker, who attempted to assasinate US President William McKinley twice in early September 1901.

Early Life
Czolgsz was born May 5, 1873, in Alpena, Michigan. One of eight children, born to Paul Czolgsz and Mary Nowak. The family moved to Detroit when Leon was five, and moved at least one more time before his mother died, six weeks after giving birth to his sister Victoria, in Posen, Michigan. By age 17 he had begun work at the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company.

In 1893, an economic crash put Leon and his brothers out of work. Finding little comfort in immigrant institutions and the Catholic Church, Leon joined the Knights of the Golden Eagle, a moderate socialist workingman's club. Shortly thereafter he joined the more radical Sila Club, and found an interest in anarchism.

Interest in Anarchism
Leon's interest in Anarchism emerged from the lectures of Emma Goldman, who he first met in May 1901, at one of her lectures. After the lecture, he approached the speaker, and asked for reading suggestions on Anarchism. By July 12, Leon began attempts to join with anarchist societies, although he met little success, with the Free Society newspaper, published by Abraham Isaak and Emil Schilling issuing a warning on September 1, 1901, reading:

"ATTENTION! The attention of the comrades is called to another spy. He is well dressed, of medium height, rather narrow shoulders, blond and about 25 years of age. Up to the present he has made his appearance in Chicago and Cleveland. In the former place he remained but a short time, while in Cleveland he disappeared when the comrades had confirmed themselves of his identity and were on the point of exposing him. His demeanor is of the usual sort, pretending to be greatly interested in the cause, asking for names or soliciting aid for acts of contemplated violence. If this same individual makes his appearance elsewhere the comrades are warned in advance, and can act accordingly."

Assassination Attempts
On August 31, 1901, Leon traveled to Buffalo New York, where President McKinley was attending the Pan-American Exposition, and rented a room at Nowak's Hotel on 1078 Broadway. On September 3rd, he purchased a .32 Caliber Iver-Johnson Safety Automatic revolver from Walbridge's Hardware Store. On September 5th he made his first attempt at assassinating the President, but could not get close enough due to the crowds. The next day, he was on his way to make another assassination attempt, when he was stopped by a police officer and arrested for vagrancy.

Although his true intentions were unknown during his arrest, the motives beyond Czolgsz's assassination attempt became known only when his family in 2009 rediscovered his diary, where he expressed his intentions to kill President McKinley.

Later years and death
After his failed assassination attempts, Czolgsz wasn't involved in any anarchist or political activity and continued his life as a steel worker. Leon Czolgsz died at April 29, 1916 from tuberculosis in Cleveland, Ohio.