About Sumner Henry Needham
Lived 1828 – 1861 (aged 33). Sumner Henry Needham was a military personnel.
Sumner Henry Needham (born March 2, 1828 - died April 27, 1861) was identified in an 1888 book on the history of Essex County, Massachusetts as the first Union combat casualty of the American Civil War, although he was killed by civilians of the United States in the Baltimore riot of 1861 as the troops passed through that city. Needham was shot on April 19, 1861 but lingered for eight days before dying of his wounds.
Modern historian David Detzer states that Luther C. Ladd was the first Union soldier to die in the Baltimore riot. On June 1, 1861 in a report dated May 16, 1861, Harper's Weekly identified Ladd as the "first victim of the war" on April 19, 1861.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Sumner Henry Needham?
Union Army soldier (1828–1861)
When was Sumner Henry Needham born?
Sumner Henry Needham was born on 2 March 1828.
When did Sumner Henry Needham die?
Sumner Henry Needham died on 19 April 1861 in Baltimore.
What was Sumner Henry Needham's occupation?
Sumner Henry Needham was a military personnel.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Sumner Henry Needham
· DBpedia: Sumner Henry Needham
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sumner Henry Needham. https://biography.guide/sumner-henry-needham/
MLA: "Sumner Henry Needham." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sumner-henry-needham/.
Chicago: "Sumner Henry Needham." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sumner-henry-needham/.
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