Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the United States of America
16th President of the United States of America
Abraham Lincoln was politician and lawyer from Illinois who served as the 16th President of the United States of America. He held his office from March of 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln's election led the nation into a secession crisis that turned into the American Civil War, the bloodiest war in this nations history. As president, Lincoln attempted to abolished slavery, and defeat the Confederate Rebellion in order to preserve the Union.
Born: February 12, 1809
Birthplace: Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky
Father: Thomas Lincoln 1778 – 1851
(Buried: Thomas Lincoln Cemetery, Pleasant Grove Township, Illinois)
Mother: Nancy Hanks 1784 – 1818
(Buried: Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City, Indiana)
Stepmother: Sarah Bush 1788 – 1869
(Buried: Thomas Lincoln Cemetery, Pleasant Grove Township, Illinois)
Wife: Mary Ann Todd 1818 – 1882
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois)
Married: November 4, 1842 in Springfield, Illinois
Children:
Robert Todd Lincoln 1843 – 1926
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Edward Baker "Eddie" Lincoln 1846 – 1850
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois)
William Wallace "Willie" Lincoln 1850 – 1862
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois)
Thomas "Tad" Lincoln 1853 – 1871
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois)
Signature:
Political Party:
Whig (before 1854)
Republican (1854–1864)
National Union (1864–1865)
Nicknames: The Ancient One, The Great Emancipator, The Liberator, Honest Abe, The Rail-Splitter, The Tycoon, and Uncle Abe.
Religion: Lincoln was an undeclared, bible reader who sometimes used Christian imagery in his speeches, but never joined a church, although he did attend services with his wife.
Education: Minimal, perhaps 12 to 18 months of formal schooling from travelling teachers, otherwise self educated, and well read.
Occupation before the War:
Took Goods on flatboat to New Orleans witnessing slavery
1832: Served in the Black Hawk War rising to Captain
General Merchant in New Salem, Illinois
1833 – 1836: United States Postmaster of New Salem, Illinois
1834 – 1836: Deputy County Surveyor in Illinois
1834 – 1842: Illinois State Representative
1837 – 1847: Attorney in Springfield, Illinois
Supporter of American Colonization Society
1840: Whig Party Presidential Elector
1842: On Sept 22, Lincoln agreed to meet James Shields at Bloody Island, Missouri to face a duel to the death with broadswords, a weapon of Lincoln's choosing. Despite his anger over Lincoln ridiculing him in the newspaper, Shields quickly realized his height disadvantage when Lincoln was able to cut a tree branch high above Shield's head. The two were able to quickly call a truce.
1844: Campaigner for Henry Clay's Campaign
1847 – 1849: U.S. Congressman from Illinois
Member of Congressional Committee on Post Office & Post Roads
Member of Congressional Committee on War Dept. Expenditures
1848: Supporter of Zachary Taylor's Presidential Campaign
Lost out appointment as Commissioner of General Land Office
1849
Returned to being an Attorney in Springfield, Illinois
March 7 - As an Attorney, Lincoln argued and lost a case in front of the United States Supreme Court, the case helped him make a name for himself as a litigator in Illinois.
May 22 - Lincoln's Patent for a Self-Buoying River Boat is Granted by the United States Patent Office, U.S. Patent No. 6469. (Lincoln goes on to become the only U.S. President in American History to hold a Patent.)
Improved River Boat With Inflatable Buoyant Chambers
for Navigating Shallow Water and Sandbars
Google: U.S. Patent 6469
1855: Unsuccessful Whig Candidate for United States Senator
1856: Joined the Republican Political Party, was supported to run for Vice President, but Party nominated a different candidate instead.
1856: Campaigned for John C. Fremont's Campaign
1858
June 16 - Lincoln Gives his famous "House Divided" Speech
Aug to Oct - Leader after seven "Lincoln – Douglas Debates"
1859: Lincoln loses Senate race to Douglas, despite getting more popular votes.
1860
Feb 27 - Lincoln Gives his famous "Cooper Union" Speech
May 18 - Lincoln wins the Republication Nomination as the parties Presidential Candidate.
Nov 4 - Lincoln Wins the United States Presidential Election, beating 3 other candidates in the electoral collage, Lincoln's 180 to the opposition's 123 ballots all combined. Lincolns support came from mostly the North and West, he won only two of 996 counties in all the Southern states.
Major Events in Lincoln's Presidency
During the American Civil War:
1861
March 4 - Lincoln sworn in as 16th President of United States of America, and gives his first inaugural address
April 15 - Calls for 75,000 troops to recapture forts, protect Washington, and "preserve the Union"
April 19 - Lincoln orders a blockade of Confederate Ports
August 6 - Signed the Confiscation Act that authorized judicial proceedings to confiscate and free slaves who were used to support the Confederates.
November 1 - Lincoln names George McClellan as the new commander of the Union Army.
1862
July 22 - Lincoln announces his intentions to issue the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet.
September 22 - Announced the Emancipation of all slaves in the Confederate States if the rebellion did not end by January 1st, which came to be known as the Emancipation Proclamation.
1863
January 1 - Effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation, changing the legal status under federal law of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states from slave to free.
October 3 - Issues proclamation for a national day of thanksgiving.
November 19 - Lincoln gives his famous "Gettysburg Address" at the battered and bloodstained battlefield, dedicating the battlefield cemetery.
December 8 - Lincoln announces Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction: his administration will offer a pardon to any person who will swear, without coercion, his allegiance to the Union.
1864
June 7 - Lincoln accepts the nomination of at the Republican National Convention for a second term as President. Andrew Johnson is selected as Lincoln's new running mate, replacing Hannibal Hamlin.
July 11-12 - President Lincoln and his wife Mary visit Fort Stevens near Washington, D.C. during a Confederate attack and while attempting to observe the action and they are forced to take cover when they come under enemy fire.
November 8 - Lincoln is re-elected in a landslide, defeating his opponent McClellan by a wide margin. Lincoln winning 55% of the popular vote, and 212 electoral votes over McClellan's 21.
1865
March 4 - Lincoln gives his second inaugural address.
April 14th (Good Friday) - John Wilkes Booth attacks and mortally wounds Lincoln with a gunshot to the back of the head while he's attending a performance of Our American Cousin with Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., at around 10:15 p.m. Rathbone tries to capture Booth, but he escapes into the night.
Lincoln's Last Word's: Thought to be, "She won't think anything about it", answering Mary's Query: "What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so?" while holding Lincoln's hand...
Died: April 15, 1865
Time of Death: 7:22 a.m.
Age at Death: 56 Years Old
Place of Death: Peterson House, Washington, D.C.
Cause of Death: Assassination by gunshot wound to the head
Final Burial Place: Lincoln Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois
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