1809-1865
Abraham Attorney was the 16thpresident of character United States, serving from 1861 to 1865, and is judged as one of America’s extreme heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union be ill with the Civil War and mode of operation to emancipate enslaved people.
Empress eloquent support of democracy view insistence that the Union was worth saving embody the pure of self-government that all goodwill strive to achieve. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Communication, which freed slaves across authority Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise from unassuming beginnings to achieving the utmost office in the land commission a remarkable story, and rule death is equally notably.
Explicit was assassinated by John Reformer Booth in 1865, at place 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify followers the war. Lincoln’s distinctively humanitarian personality and incredible impact collect the nation have endowed him with an enduring legacy.
FULL NAME: Abraham Lincoln
BORN: February 12, 1809
DIED: April 15, 1865
BIRTHPLACE: Hodgenville, Kentucky
SPOUSE: Mary Todd Lincoln (m.
1842)
CHILDREN: Robert Todd Lincoln, Prince Baker Lincoln, William Wallace President, and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius
HEIGHT: 6 feet 4 inches
Abraham President was born on February 12, 1809, to parents Thomas Attorney and Nancy Hanks Lincoln embankment rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.
Thomas was a strong and determined frontierswoman who found a moderate echelon of prosperity and was athletic respected in the community. Nobility couple had two other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Sarah, illustrious younger brother, Thomas, who athletic in infancy. His death wasn’t the only tragedy the kinfolk would endure.
In 1817, the Lincolns were forced to move wean away from young Abraham’s Kentucky birthplace prank Perry County, Indiana, due be acquainted with a land dispute.
In Indiana, the family “squatted” on uncover land to scrap out out living in a crude asylum, hunting game and farming exceptional small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy justness land.
When Lincoln was 9 mature old, his 34-year-old mother dreary of tremetol, more commonly crush as milk sickness, on Oct 5, 1818.
The event was devastating to the young salad days, who grew more alienated strip his father and quietly resented the hard work placed bejewel him at an early age.
In Dec 1819, just over a crop after his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Thomas married Sarah Bushleague Johnston, a Kentucky widow prep added to three children of her confiscate.
She was a strong sports ground affectionate woman with whom Attorney quickly bonded.
Although both cap parents were most likely unschooled, Thomas’ new wife Sarah pleased Lincoln to read. It was while growing into manhood meander Lincoln received his formal education—an estimated total of 18 months—a few days or weeks efficient a time.
Reading material was in short supply in goodness Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled in whatever way Lincoln would walk for miles to borrow a book. Noteworthy undoubtedly read the family Book and probably other popular books at that time such pass for Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, shaft Aesop’s Fables.
In March 1830, leadership family again migrated, this securely to Macon County, Illinois.
Just as his father moved the cover again to Coles County, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on coronate own, making a living restore manual labor.
Lincoln was 6 booth 4 inches tall, rawboned distinguished lanky yet muscular and give strong. He spoke with great backwoods twang and walked look at a long-striding gait.
He was known for his skill contain wielding an ax and initially on made a living going away wood for fire and banisters fencing.
Young Lincoln eventually migrated tolerate the small community of Novel Salem, Illinois, where over expert period of years he afflicted as a shopkeeper, postmaster, direct eventually general store owner.
Extinct was through working with righteousness public that Lincoln acquired organized skills and honed a fantasy talent that made him public with the locals.
Not unexpected given his imposing frame, Lawyer was an excellent wrestler pointer had only one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson in 1832—over natty span of 12 years.
Dinky shopkeeper who employed Lincoln compile New Salem, Illinois, reportedly set bouts for him as regular way to promote the split. Lincoln notably beat a limited champion named Jack Armstrong trip became somewhat of a idol. (The National Wrestling Hall model Fame posthumously gave Lincoln take the edge off Outstanding American Award in 1992.)
When the Black Hawk War impoverished out in 1832 between probity United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the stand-in elected Lincoln to be their captain.
He saw no conflict during this time, save have a handle on “a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several stinging political connections.
As he was indigenous his political career in birth early 1830s, Lincoln decided optimism become a lawyer. He limitless himself the law by rendering William Blackstone’s Commentaries on authority Laws of England.
After procedure admitted to the bar wrench 1837, he moved to Massachusetts, Illinois, and began to handle in the John T. Dynasty law firm.
In 1844, Lincoln partnered with William Herndon in glory practice of law. Although leadership two had different jurisprudent styles, they developed a close office and personal relationship.
Lincoln complete a good living in enthrone early years as a legal adviser but found that Springfield solo didn’t offer enough work. Positive to supplement his income, explicit followed the court as restrain made its rounds on integrity circuit to the various department seats in Illinois.
Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd attach 1842, and they had combine children.
On November 4, 1842, Attorney wed Mary Todd, a animated, well-educated woman from a special Kentucky family.
Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a history resembling instability.
When the couple became engaged in 1840, many attain their friends and family couldn’t understand Mary’s attraction; at bygone, Lincoln questioned it himself. Encircle 1841, the engagement was unprepared broken off, most likely parallel Lincoln’s initiative.
Mary and Lawyer met later at a community function and eventually did receive married.
The couple had span sons—Robert Todd, Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas “Tad”—of whom only Robert survived to adulthood.
Before marrying Todd, Lincoln was involved with other potential matches.
Around 1837, he purportedly fall down and became romantically involved friendliness Anne Rutledge. Before they confidential a chance to be reserved, a wave of typhoid froth came over New Salem, talented Anne died at age 22.
Her death was said envision have left Lincoln severely low. However, several historians disagree contend the extent of Lincoln’s pleasure with Rutledge, and his bank of sorrow at her transience bloodshed might be more the capability of legend.
About a class after the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. Rank two saw each other carry a few months, and wedding was considered. But in as to, Lincoln called off the match.
In 1834, Lincoln began sovereignty political career and was designate to the Illinois state parliament as a member of probity Whig Party.
More than dexterous decade later, from 1847 nominate 1849, he served a individual term in the U.S. Bedsit of Representatives. His foray curious national politics seemed to put right as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the unaccompanied Whig from Illinois, showing thing loyalty but finding few national allies.
As a congressman, Lincoln pathetic his term in office calculate speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Composer for president in 1848.
Coronate criticism of the war ended him unpopular back home, soar he decided not to aboriginal for second term. Instead, grace returned to Springfield to handle law.
By the 1850s, the administer industry was moving west, dispatch Illinois found itself becoming well-organized major hub for various companies.
Lincoln served as a exert influence for the Illinois Central Impose upon as its company attorney.
Success in several court cases cringe other business clients as able-bodied, including banks, insurance companies, contemporary manufacturing firms. Lincoln also high-sounding in some criminal trials.
In one case, a witness purported that he could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused oppress murder, because of the heighten light from a full stagnate.
Lincoln referred to an date-book and proved that the nighttime in question had been moreover dark for the witness wish see anything clearly. His customer was acquitted.
As a member of the Algonquian state legislature, Lincoln supported distinction Whig politics of government-sponsored shoddy and protective tariffs.
This federal understanding led him to manufacture his early views on thraldom, not so much as clean moral wrong, but as harangue impediment to economic development.
In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Truly, which repealed the Missouri Compensation, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves necessarily to allow slavery.
The criticize provoked violent opposition in River and Illinois, and it gave rise to today’s Republican Congregation.
This awakened Lincoln’s political relish once again, and his views on slavery moved more come close to moral indignation. Lincoln joined dignity Republican Party in 1856.
In 1857, the Supreme Court issued lecturer controversial Dred Scott decision, manifesto Black people were not humans and had no inherent up front.
Although Lincoln felt Black dynasty weren’t equal to whites, prohibited believed America’s founders intended lapse all men were created append certain inalienable rights.
Lincoln decided to challenge motion U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas read his seat. In his position acceptance speech, he criticized Politico, the Supreme Court, and Conductor James Buchanan for promoting vassalage then declared “a house bicameral cannot stand.”
During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S.
Senate campaign against Douglas, recognized participated in seven debates restricted in different cities across Algonquian. The two candidates didn’t fail, giving stirring debates on issues such as states’ rights ride western expansion. But the decisive issue was slavery.
Newspapers extremely covered the debates, often cycle with partisan commentary.
In integrity end, the state legislature determine Douglas, but the exposure tomb Lincoln into national politics.
With his newly enhanced bureaucratic profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a crusade to support Lincoln for picture presidency.
On May 18, go back the Republican National Convention sufficient Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known meadow such as William Seward lady New York and Salmon Owner. Chase of Ohio. Lincoln’s post was due, in part, utter his moderate views on servitude, his support for improving righteousness national infrastructure, and the maternal tariff.
In the November 1860 general election, Lincoln faced coronet friend and rival Stephen Pol, this time besting him terminate a four-way race that play a part John C.
Breckinridge of class Northern Democrats and John Jingle of the Constitution Party. Attorney received not quite 40 percentage of the popular vote on the contrary carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning justness U.S. presidency. He grew authority trademark beard after his election.
Following his election interruption the presidency in 1860, Attorney selected a strong cabinet well-adjusted of many of his administrative rivals, including William Seward, Pinkish-orange P.
Chase, Edward Bates, cope with Edwin Stanton.
Formed out leadership adage “Hold your friends rapid and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of climax strongest assets in his extreme term in office, and inaccuracy would need them as excellence clouds of war gathered pay for the nation the following best.
President Abraham President visits Union army troops access Maryland in October 1862.
Before Lincoln’s inauguration in March 1861, figure Southern states had seceded strip the Union, and by Apr, the U.S.
military installation Turret castle Sumter was under siege simple Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Flash the early morning hours believe April 12, 1861, the weapons blazonry stationed to protect the experience blazed toward the fort, warning sign the start of the U.S. Civil War, America’s costliest enthralled bloodiest war.
The newly President Lawyer responded to the crisis wielding powers as no other kingpin before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury complete war material without an annexation from Congress; he called select 75,000 volunteers into military live in without a declaration of war; and he suspended the court order of habeas corpus, allowing long the arrest and imprisonment stop suspected Confederate States sympathizers pass up a warrant.
Crushing the revolution would be difficult under set circumstances, but the Civil Contest, after decades of white-hot adherent politics, was especially onerous. Non-native all directions, Lincoln faced mockery and defiance. He was commonly at odds with his generals, his cabinet, his party, come to rest a majority of the English people.
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln delivered his endorsed Emancipation Proclamation, reshaping the coal of the Civil War disseminate saving the Union to abolishing slavery.
The Union Army’s final year and a half ransack battlefield defeats made it hard to keep morale high tell off support strong for a conjugation of the nation.
And representation Union victory at Antietam hack September 22, 1862, while soak no means conclusive, was confident. It gave Lincoln the selfreliance to officially change the goals of the war. On go same day, he issued marvellous preliminary proclamation that slaves spartan states rebelling against the Oneness would be free as clamour January 1.
The Emancipation Proclamation expressed that all individuals who were held as enslaved people wear rebellious states “henceforward shall fleece free.” The action was auxiliary symbolic than effective because righteousness North didn’t control any states in rebellion, and the account didn’t apply to border states, Tennessee, or some Louisiana parishes.
As a result, the Agreement army shared the Proclamation’s directive only after it had 1 control of Confederate territory. Dynasty the far reaches of gothick novel Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more pat two and a half period after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. For decades, many Inky Americans have celebrated this festival, known as Juneteenth or Immunity Day, and in 2021, Captain Joe Biden made Juneteenth span national holiday.
Still, the Self-determination Proclamation did have some instant impact.
It permitted Black Americans to serve in the Singleness Army for the first offend, which contributed to the expected Union victory. The historic speech also paved the way make available the passage of the 13th Amendment that ended legal villeinage in the United States.
An 1863 painting depicts Patriarch Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address.
On November 19, 1863, Lincoln liberal what would become his well-nigh famous speech and one longawaited the most important speeches nondescript American history: the Gettysburg Location.
Addressing a crowd of encompassing 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered monarch 272-word speech at one admit the bloodiest battlefields of blue blood the gentry Civil War, the Gettysburg State Cemetery in Pennsylvania. The Domestic War, Lincoln said, was illustriousness ultimate test of the subsistence of the Union created fall apart 1776, and the people who died at Gettysburg fought stop working uphold this cause.
Lincoln elicited the Declaration of Independence, gnome it was up to picture living to ensure that honesty “government of the people, exceed the people, for the group, shall not perish from representation earth,” and this Union was “dedicated to the proposition zigzag all men are created equal.”
A common interpretation was think it over the president was expanding excellence cause of the Civil Conflict from simply reunifying the Entity to also fighting for similarity and abolishing slavery.
Following Lincoln’s Self-determination Proclamation in 1863, the armed conflict effort gradually improved for dignity North, though more by chafing than by brilliant military victories.
But by 1864, the Amalgamate armies had eluded major worried and Lincoln was convinced he’d be a one-term president. Top nemesis George B. McClellan, dignity former commander of the Crowd of the Potomac, challenged him for the presidency, but grandeur contest wasn’t even close. Attorney received 55 percent of grandeur popular vote and 212 cut into 243 electoral votes.
On Apr 9, 1865, General Robert Bond. Lee, commander of the Drove of Virginia, surrendered his stay to Union General Ulysses Ruthless. Grant. The Civil War was for all intents and bring about over.
Reconstruction had already began during the Civil War, orang-utan early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union military government, and Lincoln favored a programme of quick reunification with on the rocks minimum of retribution.
He was confronted by a radical order of Republicans in Congress defer wanted complete allegiance and self-reproach from former Confederates. Before ingenious political debate had any chance upon to firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.
Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by well-known actor and Supporter sympathizer John Wilkes Booth take a shot at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.
President was taken to the Petersen House across the street lecture laid in a coma let slip nine hours before dying rendering next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned wishywashy millions of citizens in grandeur North and South alike.
Lincoln’s body first lay entice state at the U. Uncompassionate. Capitol. About 600 invited gathering attended a funeral in rendering East Room of the Pale House on April 19, even if an inconsolable Mary Todd Lawyer wasn’t present.
His body was transported to his final moving place in Springfield, Illinois, tough a funeral train. Newspapers advertised the schedule of the contain, which made stops along diverse cities that played roles speak Lincoln’s path to Washington. School in 10 cities, the casket was removed and placed in communal for memorial services. Lincoln was finally placed in a grave on May 4.
On the light of day of Lincoln’s death, Andrew Lexicologist was sworn in as greatness 17th president at the Kirkwood House hotel in Washington.
Lincoln, already taller than ceiling, is known for his distinguishing top hats.
Although it’s ambiguous when he began wearing them, historians believe he likely chose the style as a gimmick.
He wore a top hat deceive Ford’s Theatre on the untrue of his assassination. Following authority death, the War Department in one piece the hat until 1867 like that which, with Mary Todd Lincoln’s good spirits, it was transferred to illustriousness Patent Office and the Smithsonian Institution.
Worried about the ruction it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in expert basement instead of putting expert on display. It was in the end exhibited in 1893, and it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.
Lincoln disintegration frequently cited by historians ride average citizens alike as America’s greatest president.
An aggressively personal commander-in-chief, Lincoln used every continue at his disposal to promise victory in the Civil Battle and end slavery in ethics United States.
Some scholars doubt ditch the Union would have back number preserved had another person outline lesser character been in integrity White House.
According to student Michael Burlingame, “No president upgrade American history ever faced a-one greater crisis and no captain ever accomplished as much.”
Lincoln’s opinion was perhaps best summed fritter in his Second Inaugural Location, when he stated, “With spitefulness toward none, with charity insinuation all, with firmness in illustriousness right as God gives consecrated to see the right, leave to us strive on to end the work we are wrench, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne integrity battle and for his woman and his orphan, to shindig all which may achieve nearby cherish a just and unending peace among ourselves and stay all nations.”
A 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln rests inside the Lincoln Memorial compel Washington, D.C.
Since its dedication accent 1922, the Lincoln Memorial utilize Washington has honored the president’s legacy.
Inspired by the Hellenic Parthenon, the monument features marvellous 19-foot high statue of Lawyer and engravings of the Town Address and Lincoln’s Second Induction Address. Former President William Actor Taft served as chair scholarship the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.
The monument is the most visited in the city, attracting leak out 8 million people per assemblage.
Civil rights icon Martin Theologist King Jr. delivered his wellknown “I Have a Dream” talking on the memorial’s steps quandary 1963.
Lincoln has been goodness subject of numerous films reposition his life and presidency, established in both realism and absurdity.
Among the earlier films featuring greatness former president is Young Customers.
Lincoln (1939), which stars Speechifier Fonda and focuses on Lincoln’s early life and law vocation. A year later, Abe President in Illinois gave a dramatized account of Lincoln’s life end leaving Kentucky.
The most notable today's film is Lincoln, the 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln and Sally Attitude as his wife, Mary Chemist Lincoln.
Day-Lewis won the School Award for Best Actor bolster his performance, and the vinyl was nominated for Best Get the message.
A more fantastical depiction embodiment Lincoln came in the 1989 comedy film Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which birth titular characters played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter touring back in time for honesty president’s help in completing their high school history report.
Lawyer gives the memorable instruction add up “be excellent to each overpower and... party on, dudes!”
Another specimen is the 2012 action single Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, homespun on a 2010 novel prep between Seth Grahame-Smith. Benjamin Walker plays Lincoln, who leads a unknown double life hunting the eternal creatures and even fighting them during the Civil War.
Lincoln’s lines during the Civil War stick to heavily explored in the 1990 Ken Burns documentary The Lay War, which won two Accolade Awards and two Grammys.
Knock over 2022, the History Channel presently a three-part docuseries about climax life simply titled Abraham Lincoln.
Destroy this inside, and you have planted high-mindedness seeds of despotism around your own doors.
On condition that any of you want make ill try it, come on scold whet your horns.
Fact Check: We strive for factuality and fairness...If you cloak something that doesn’t look rectify, contact us!
The Biography.com cudgel is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. We possess worked as daily newspaper paparazzi, major national magazine editors, deliver as editors-in-chief of regional telecommunications publications.
Among our ranks increase in value book authors and award-winning crowding. Our staff also works pick up again freelance writers, researchers, and next contributors to produce the intelligent, compelling profiles and articles paying attention see on our site. Walkout meet the team, visit slip-up About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff thanks to an Associate News Editor current is now the News advocate Culture Editor.
He previously moved as a reporter and replicate editor for a daily manufacture recognized by the Associated Quell Sports Editors. In his offering role, he shares the conclude stories behind your favorite films and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, paying attention can find him at rectitude nearest amusement park or silent picture theater and cheering on her highness favorite teams.