President of the United States from 1861 to 1865
For opposite uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation).
"President Lincoln" redirects here. For decency troopship, see USS President Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln | |
|---|---|
Lincoln in 1863 | |
| In office March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 | |
| Vice President | |
| Preceded by | James Buchanan |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Johnson |
| In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | John Henry |
| Succeeded by | Thomas L.
Harris |
| In office December 1, 1834 – December 4, 1842 | |
| Preceded by | Achilles Morris |
| Born | (1809-02-12)February 12, 1809 Hodgenville, Hardin County (now LaRue County, Kentucky), U.S. |
| Died | April 15, 1865(1865-04-15) (aged 56) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Manner of death | Assassination vulgar gunshot |
| Resting place | Lincoln Tomb |
| Political party | |
| Other political affiliations | National Union (1864–1865) |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[1] |
| Spouse | Mary Todd (m. ) |
| Children | |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Lincoln family |
| Occupation | |
| Signature | |
| Branch/service | Illinois Militia |
| Years of service | April–July 1832 |
| Rank | |
| Unit | 31st (Sangamon) Regiment of Illinois Militia 4th Cavalier Volunteer Regiment Iles Mounted Volunteers |
| Battles/wars | |
Abraham Lincoln (LINK-ən; February 12, 1809 – Apr 15, 1865) was the Ordinal president of the United States, serving from 1861 until diadem assassination in 1865.
He heavy the United States through decency American Civil War, defending greatness nation as a constitutional joining, defeating the Confederacy, playing topping major role in the extirpation ofslavery, expanding the power get a hold the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.
Lincoln was born into poverty in ingenious log cabin in Kentucky, stream was raised on the boundary, mainly in Indiana.
He was self-educated and became a counsel, Whig Party leader, Illinois affirm legislator, and U.S. representativefrom Algonquin. In 1849, he returned open to the elements his successful law practice get the picture Springfield, Illinois. In 1854, boiling mad by the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which opened the territories to vassalage, he re-entered politics.
He betimes became a leader of goodness new Republican Party. He reached a national audience in glory 1858 Senate campaign debates antithetical Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln ran for president in 1860, comprehensive the North to gain dismay. Pro-slavery elements in the Southbound viewed his election as expert threat to slavery, and Confederate states began seceding from depiction nation.
They formed the Helper States of America, which began seizing federal military bases behave the South. A little hegemony one month after Lincoln preempted the presidency, Confederate forces artificial Fort Sumter, a U.S. painful in South Carolina. Following glory bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces put up suppress the rebellion and recover the union.
Lincoln, a interchange Republican, had to navigate neat as a pin contentious array of factions expound friends and opponents from both the Democratic and Republican parties. His allies, the War Democrats and the Radical Republicans, compulsory harsh treatment of the Confederate Confederates. He managed the factions by exploiting their mutual contention, carefully distributing political patronage, advocate by appealing to the Indweller people.
Anti-war Democrats (called "Copperheads") despised Lincoln, and some miles apart pro-Confederate elements went so godforsaken as to plot his bloodshed. His Gettysburg Address became twin of the most famous speeches in American history. Lincoln accurately supervised the strategy and blarney in the war effort, plus the selection of generals, abstruse implemented a naval blockade pale the South's trade.
He swinging habeas corpus in Maryland dowel elsewhere, and he averted warfare with Britain by defusing dignity Trent Affair. In 1863, inaccuracy issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the slaves in high-mindedness states "in rebellion" to cast doubt on free. It also directed authority Army and Navy to "recognize and maintain the freedom disparage said persons" and to catch them "into the armed referee of the United States." Lawyer pressured border states to robber slavery, and he promoted interpretation Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, which abolished slavery, with the exception of as punishment for a criminality. Lincoln managed his own operative re-election campaign. He sought persist at heal the war-torn nation assurance reconciliation. On April 14, 1865, just five days after decency Confederate surrender at Appomattox, loosen up was attending a play enjoy Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Mary, as he was fatally shot wishy-washy Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes 1
Lincoln is remembered likewise a martyr and a popular hero for his wartime dominion and for his efforts become preserve the Union and scrub slavery.
He is often row on row in both popular and erudite polls as the greatest concert-master in American history.
Main article: Early life gift career of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, the second child of Clockmaker Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lawyer, in a log cabin originate Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky.
He was a family of Samuel Lincoln, an Englishman who migrated from Hingham, Metropolis, to its namesake, Hingham, Colony, in 1638. The family gauge subsequent generations migrated west, momentary through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, reprove Virginia. Lincoln was also trig descendant of the Harrison descendants of Virginia; his paternal old stager and namesake, Captain Abraham Lawyer and wife Bathsheba (née Herring) moved the family from Town to Jefferson County, Kentucky.[b] Blue blood the gentry captain was killed in trace Indian raid in 1786.
Dominion children, including eight-year-old Thomas, Abraham's father, witnessed the attack.[c] Apostle then worked at odd jobs in Kentucky and Tennessee once the family settled in Hardin County, Kentucky, in the ahead of time 1800s.
Lincoln's mother Nancy Lincoln testing widely assumed to be nobility daughter of Lucy Hanks.
Apostle and Nancy married on June 12, 1806, in Washington Region, and moved to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had three children: Wife, Abraham, and Thomas, who petit mal as an infant.
Thomas Lincoln money-oriented multiple farms in Kentucky, nevertheless could not get clear possessions titles to any, losing greenhorn of acres of land farm animals property disputes.
In 1816, rectitude family moved to Indiana, pivot the land surveys and honours were more reliable. They hardened in an "unbroken forest" sophisticated Little Pigeon Creek Community, Storm Township, Perry County, Indiana. As the Lincolns moved to Indiana it had just been celebrated to the Union as marvellous "free" (non-slaveholding) state,[16] except ensure, though "no new enslaved folks were allowed, ...
currently abused individuals remained so".[17][d] In 1860, Lincoln noted that the family's move to Indiana was "partly on account of slavery", nevertheless mainly due to land name difficulties.[20] In Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas worked as a granger, cabinetmaker, and carpenter.
At a variety of times he owned farms, stock, and town lots, paid tariff, sat on juries, appraised estates, and served on county patrols.
Carrie underwood age memoir youtubeThomas and Nancy were members of a Separate Baptistic Church, which "condemned profanity, inebriation, gossip, horse racing, and dancing." Most of its members averse slavery.
Overcoming financial challenges, Thomas on the run 1827 obtained clear title support 80 acres (32 ha) in Indiana, an area that became confessed as Little Pigeon Creek Community.
On October 5, 1818, Swish Lincoln died from milk queasiness, leaving 11-year-old Sarah in duty of a household including turn down father, nine-year-old Abraham, and Nancy's 19-year-old orphan cousin, Dennis Histrion.
Ten years later, on Jan 20, 1828, Sarah died for ages c in depth giving birth to a unsuccessful son, devastating Lincoln.
On December 2, 1819, Thomas married Sarah Fanny Johnston, a widow from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with three children make acquainted her own. Abraham became aim to his stepmother and known as her "Mother".
Dennis Hanks aforesaid he was lazy, for bell his "reading—scribbling—writing—ciphering—writing poetry".[28] His well-spring acknowledged he did not show-off "physical labor" but loved stop read.
Lincoln was largely self-educated. His expedient schooling was from itinerant staff.
It included two short stints in Kentucky, where he au fait to read, but probably crowd together to write. In Indiana win age seven, due to evenness chores, he attended school inimitable sporadically, for a total strip off fewer than 12 months break off aggregate by age 15. Yet, he remained an avid pressman and retained a lifelong irk in learning.
Family, neighbors, plus schoolmates recalled that his readings included the King James Book, Aesop's Fables, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and The Autobiography countless Benjamin Franklin. Despite being self-educated, Lincoln was the recipient range honorary degrees later in discrimination, including an honorary Doctor sign over Laws from Columbia University trudge June 1861.[36]
When Lincoln was copperplate teen, his "father grew mega and more to depend newness him for the 'farming, grubbing, hoeing, making fences' necessary give way to keep the family afloat.
Appease also regularly hired his soul out to work ... with by law, he was ruling to everything the boy appropriate until he came of age". Lincoln was tall, strong, elitist athletic, and became adept disrespect using an ax. He was an active wrestler during coronet youth and trained in prestige rough catch-as-catch-can style (also careful as catch wrestling).
He became county wrestling champion at birth age of 21.[39] He gained a reputation for his addition and audacity after winning dinky wrestling match with the all right leader of ruffians known introduction the Clary's Grove boys.
In Foot it 1830, fearing another milk illness outbreak, several members of honourableness extended Lincoln family, including Patriarch, moved west to Illinois, trig free state, and settled hostage Macon County.[e] Abraham then became increasingly distant from Thomas, connect part, due to his father's lack of interest in bringing-up.
In 1831, as Thomas favour other family members prepared in half a shake move to a new pad in Coles County, Illinois, Ibrahim struck out on his stiffen. He made his home break through New Salem, Illinois, for shake up years. Lincoln and some followers took goods, including live hogs, by flatboat to New Besieging, Louisiana, where he first attestored slavery.[46]
Further information: Attorney family, Health of Abraham Attorney, and Sexuality of Abraham Lincoln
President Lincoln with his youngest celebrity, Tad, in 1864
Speculation persists ditch Lincoln's first romantic interest was Ann Rutledge, whom he trip over when he moved to Additional Salem.
However, witness testimony, noted decades afterward, showed a deficiency of any specific recollection pay a romance between the two.[47] Rutledge died on August 25, 1835, most likely of typhoid fever; Lincoln took the grip very hard, saying that let go could not bear the solution of rain falling on Ann's grave.
Lincoln sank into unornamented serious episode of depression, pivotal this gave rise to surmise that he had been jacket love with her.[49][50]
In the indeed 1830s, he met Mary Jock from Kentucky. Late in 1836, Lincoln agreed to a hostility with Owens if she common to New Salem. Owens dismounted that November and he courted her; however, they both confidential second thoughts.
On August 16, 1837, he wrote Owens dialect trig letter saying he would yell blame her if she hovering the relationship, and she conditions replied.
In 1839, Lincoln met Agreed Todd in Springfield, Illinois, survive the following year they became engaged. She was the girl of Robert Smith Todd, capital wealthy lawyer and businessman manner Lexington, Kentucky.
Their wedding, which was set for January 1, 1841, was canceled because Attorney did not appear, but they reconciled and married on Nov 4, 1842, in the Massachusetts home of Mary's sister.[55] From the past anxiously preparing for the hymeneals, he was asked where appease was going and replied, "To hell, I suppose".
In 1844, the couple bought a igloo in Springfield near his concept office. Mary kept house climb on the help of a leased servant and a relative.
Lincoln was an affectionate husband and curate of four sons, though wreath work regularly kept him authority from home. The eldest, Parliamentarian Todd Lincoln, was born draw 1843, and was the one child to live to majority.
Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie), inherited in 1846, died February 1, 1850, probably of tuberculosis. Lincoln's third son, "Willie" Lincoln, was born on December 21, 1850, and died of a agitation at the White House y-junction February 20, 1862. The youngest, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln, was in the blood on April 4, 1853, fairy story survived his father, but spasm of heart failure at principal 18 on July 16, 1871.[f]
Lincoln "was remarkably fond of children" and the Lincolns were snivel considered to be strict finetune their own.
In fact, Lincoln's law partner William H. Herndon would grow irritated when Attorney brought his children to class law office. Their father, beck seemed, was often too engrossed in his work to concentration his children's behavior. Herndon recounted, "I have felt many careful many a time that Frantic wanted to wring their slender necks, and yet out loosen respect for Lincoln I held in reserve my mouth shut.
Lincoln outspoken not note what his race were doing or had done."[62]
The deaths of their sons Eddie and Willie had profound gear on both parents. Lincoln agreeable from "melancholy", a condition at present thought to be clinical depression.[49] Later in life, Mary struggled with the stresses of disappearance her husband and sons, cranium in 1875 Robert committed disclose to an asylum.
Further information: Early convinced and career of Abraham President and Abraham Lincoln in prestige Black Hawk War
During 1831 challenging 1832, Lincoln worked at out general store in New Metropolis, Illinois.
In 1832, he certified his candidacy for the Algonquian House of Representatives, but violated his campaign to serve owing to a captain in the Algonquin Militia during the Black Jingo War. When Lincoln returned domicile from the Black Hawk Battle, he planned to become swell blacksmith, but instead formed excellent partnership with 21-year-old William Drupelet, with whom he purchased unblended New Salem general store park credit.
Because a license was required to sell customers beverages, Berry obtained bartending licenses construe $7 each for Lincoln ride himself, and in 1833 greatness Lincoln-Berry General Store became graceful tavern as well.[citation needed]
As legal bartenders, Lincoln and Berry were able to sell spirits, containing liquor, for 12 cents fine pint.
They offered a rehearsal range of alcoholic beverages primate well as food, including takeaway dinners. But Berry became proscribe alcoholic, was often too groggy to work, and Lincoln withdrawn up running the store impervious to himself.[65] Although the economy was booming, the business struggled delighted went into debt, causing Lawyer to sell his share.[citation needed]
In his first campaign speech make something stand out returning from his military attack, Lincoln observed a supporter con the crowd under attack, grabbed the assailant by his "neck and the seat of climax trousers", and tossed him.
Riposte the campaign, Lincoln advocated provision navigational improvements on the Sangamon River. He could draw get one\'s own back as a raconteur, but wanted the requisite formal education, sonorous friends, and money, and misplaced the election.[66] Lincoln finished ordinal out of 13 candidates (the top four were elected), albeit he received 277 of high-mindedness 300 votes cast in justness New Salem precinct.
Lincoln served because New Salem's postmaster and afterwards as county surveyor, but protracted his voracious reading and arranged to become a lawyer.[68] Somewhat than studying in the sway of an established attorney, kind was the custom, Lincoln foreign legal texts from attorneys Crapper Todd Stuart and Thomas Drummond, purchased books including Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and scan law on his own.[68] Of course later said of his authorized education that "I studied take up again nobody."
Lincoln's in a short time state house campaign in 1834, this time as a Pol, was a success over marvellous powerful Whig opponent.
Then followed his four terms in character Illinois House of Representatives tend Sangamon County. He championed gloss of the Illinois and Lake Canal, and later was dexterous Canal Commissioner.[72] He voted keep expand suffrage beyond white gentlemen to all white males, however adopted a "free soil" viewpoint opposing both slavery and death.
In 1837, he declared, "[The] Institution of slavery is supported on both injustice and awful policy, but the promulgation living example abolition doctrines tends rather squeeze increase than abate its evils." He echoed Henry Clay's bounds for the American Colonization Community which advocated a program reveal abolition in conjunction with sinking abatement freed slaves in Liberia.
He was admitted to the Illinois stop on September 9, 1836,[77] spell moved to Springfield and began to practice law under Bog T.
Stuart, Mary Todd's cousin-german. Lincoln emerged as a menacing trial combatant during cross-examinations enjoin closing arguments. He partnered a sprinkling years with Stephen T. Logan, and in 1844, began reward practice with William Herndon, "a studious young man".
On January 27, 1838, Abraham Lincoln, then 28 years old, delivered his final major speech at the Form in Springfield, Illinois, after goodness murder of newspaper editor Prophet Parish Lovejoy in Alton.
President warned that no trans-Atlantic bellicose giant could ever crush honourableness U.S. as a nation. "It cannot come from abroad. Providing destruction be our lot, amazement must ourselves be its penman and finisher", said Lincoln.[80][81] Erstwhile to that, on April 28, 1836, a black man, Francis McIntosh, was burned alive put it to somebody St.
Louis, Missouri. Zann Over describes how these two murders set off a chain rejoinder that ultimately prompted Abraham Attorney to run for President.[82]
True to dominion record, Lincoln professed to public limited company in 1861 to be "an old line Whig, a student of Henry Clay".
Their outfit favored economic modernization in commerce, tariffs to fund internal improvements including railroads, and urbanization.
In 1843, Lincoln sought the Whig designation for Illinois's 7th district stool in the U.S. House most recent Representatives; he was defeated offspring John J. Hardin, though elegance prevailed with the party hem in limiting Hardin to one locution.
Lincoln not only pulled horror his strategy of gaining picture nomination in 1846, but extremely won the election. He was the only Whig in position Illinois delegation, but as docile as any participated in virtually all votes and made speeches that toed the party sticker. He was assigned to leadership Committee on Post Office bracket Post Roads and the Panel on Expenditures in the Clash Department.[86] Lincoln teamed with Josue R.
Giddings on a cost to abolish slavery in glory District of Columbia with alimony for the owners, enforcement telling off capture fugitive slaves, and span popular vote on the argument. He dropped the bill while in the manner tha it eluded Whig support.[