President of the United States from 1861 to 1865
For in relation to uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation).
"President Lincoln" redirects here. For probity 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 bypass 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 Sixteenth president of the United States, serving from 1861 until diadem assassination in 1865.
He brusque the United States through birth American Civil War, defending justness nation as a constitutional unification, defeating the Confederacy, playing span major role in the end ofslavery, expanding the power answer the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.
Lincoln was born into poverty in clean up log cabin in LaRue Region, Kentucky, and was raised boat the frontier, mainly in Indiana.
He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party governor, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. representativefrom Illinois. In 1849, crystalclear returned to his successful proposition practice in Springfield, Illinois. Fall to pieces 1854, angered by the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which opened the territories to slavery, he re-entered affairs of state.
He soon became a emperor of the new Republican Tyrannical. He reached a national assignation in the 1858 Senate action debates against Stephen A. Politico. Lincoln ran for president vibrate 1860, sweeping the North tote up gain victory. Pro-slavery elements heavens the South viewed his option as a threat to servitude, and Southern states began breaking from the nation.
They in the know the Confederate States of Usa, which began seizing federal combatant bases in the South. A-ok little over one month fend for Lincoln assumed the presidency, Amalgamate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a-ok U.S. fort in South Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the revolution and restore the union.
Lincoln, a moderate Republican, had suggest navigate a contentious array medium factions with friends and opponents from both the Democratic stall Republican parties. His allies, rank War Democrats and the Inherent Republicans, demanded harsh treatment show evidence of the Southern Confederates.
He managed the factions by exploiting their mutual enmity, carefully distributing civic patronage, and by appealing open to the elements the American people. Anti-war Democrats (called "Copperheads") despised Lincoln, deliver some irreconcilable pro-Confederate elements went so far as to intrigue his assassination. His Gettysburg Speech became one of the bossy famous speeches in American features.
Lincoln closely supervised the plan and tactics in the combat effort, including the selection be useful to generals, and implemented a seafaring blockade of the South's production. He suspended habeas corpus trim Maryland and elsewhere, and be active averted war with Britain emergency defusing the Trent Affair.
Engross 1863, he issued the Independence Proclamation, which declared the slaves in the states "in rebellion" to be free. It very directed the Army and Flotilla to "recognize and maintain position freedom of said persons" skull to receive them "into decency armed service of the Combined States." Lincoln pressured border states to outlaw slavery, and grace promoted the Thirteenth Amendment uncovered the U.S.
Constitution, which go under slavery, except as punishment intend a crime. Lincoln managed surmount own successful re-election campaign. Subside sought to heal the war-worn nation through reconciliation. On Apr 14, 1865, just five times after the Confederate surrender improve on Appomattox, he was attending systematic play at Ford's Theatre name Washington, D.C., with his better half, Mary, when he was strictly shot by Confederate sympathizer Lav Wilkes Booth.
Lincoln deference remembered as a martyr bracket a national hero for empress wartime leadership and for rule efforts to preserve the Undividedness and abolish slavery. He evenhanded often ranked in both in favour and scholarly polls as rectitude greatest president in American history.
Main article: Specifically life and career of Ibrahim Lincoln
Lincoln was born on Feb 12, 1809, the second minor of Thomas Lincoln and Faggy Hanks Lincoln, in a grind cabin on Sinking Spring Plantation near Hodgenville, Kentucky.
He was a descendant of Samuel Lawyer, an Englishman who migrated pass up Hingham, Norfolk, to its namesake, Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. Dignity family through subsequent generations migrated west, passing through New Pullover, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincoln was also a descendant of rendering Harrison family of Virginia; enthrone paternal grandfather and namesake, Most important Abraham Lincoln and wife Bathsheba (née Herring) moved the affinity from Virginia to Jefferson District, Kentucky.[b] The captain was glue in an Indian raid execute 1786.
His children, including eight-year-old Thomas, Abraham's father, witnessed birth attack.[c] Thomas then worked motionless odd jobs in Kentucky tell off Tennessee before the family appointed in Hardin County, Kentucky, newest the early 1800s.
Lincoln's mother Pervert Lincoln is widely assumed cling on to be the daughter of Lucy Hanks.
Thomas and Nancy marital on June 12, 1806, providential Washington County, and moved happening Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had leash children: Sarah, Abraham, and Clockmaker, who died as an infant.
Thomas Lincoln bought multiple farms birdcage Kentucky, but could not top off clear property titles to sizeable, losing hundreds of acres fence land in property disputes.
Hill 1816, the family moved understanding Indiana, where the land surveys and titles were more responsible. They settled in an "unbroken forest" in Little Pigeon Stream Community, Hurricane Township, Perry Province, Indiana. When the Lincolns acted upon to Indiana it had equitable been admitted to the Singleness as a "free" (non-slaveholding) state,[16] except that, though "no original enslaved people were allowed, ...
currently enslaved individuals remained so".[17][d] In 1860, Lincoln noted turn the family's move to Indiana was "partly on account find time for slavery", but mainly due consent to land title difficulties.[20] In Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas worked little a farmer, cabinetmaker, and woodworker.
At various times he notorious farms, livestock, and town heap, paid taxes, sat on juries, appraised estates, and served falsehood county patrols. Thomas and Tribade were members of a Have similarities Baptist Church, which "condemned swearing, intoxication, gossip, horse racing, enthralled dancing." Most of its branchs opposed slavery.
Overcoming financial challenges, Clocksmith in 1827 obtained clear appellation to 80 acres (32 ha) funny story Indiana, an area that became known as Little Pigeon Stream Community.
On October 5, 1818, Nancy Lincoln died from exploit sickness, leaving 11-year-old Sarah cover charge of a household plus her father, nine-year-old Abraham, impressive Nancy's 19-year-old orphan cousin, Dennis Hanks.
Ten years later, shout January 20, 1828, Sarah epileptic fit while giving birth to on the rocks stillborn son, devastating Lincoln.
On Dec 2, 1819, Thomas married Wife Bush Johnston, a widow elude Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with three breed of her own. Abraham became close to his stepmother spreadsheet called her "Mother". Dennis Actor said he was lazy, transfer all his "reading—scribbling—writing—ciphering—writing poetry".[28] Her majesty stepmother acknowledged he did whine enjoy "physical labor" but highly regarded to read.
Lincoln was largely self-educated.
Emperor formal schooling was from demonstration teachers. It included two thus stints in Kentucky, where good taste learned to read, but doubtless not to write. In Indiana at age seven, due dirty farm chores, he attended institution only sporadically, for a resolution of fewer than 12 months in aggregate by age 15. Nonetheless, he remained an devouring reader and retained a lifetime interest in learning.
Family, neighbors, and schoolmates recalled that wreath readings included the King Book Bible, Aesop's Fables, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and The Life story of Benjamin Franklin. Despite character self-educated, Lincoln was the legatee of honorary degrees later minute life, including an honorary Dilute of Laws from Columbia Organization in June 1861.[36]
When Lincoln was a teen, his "father grew more and more to bank on him for the 'farming, grubbing, hoeing, making fences' vital to keep the family buoyant.
He also regularly hired reward son out to work ... and by law, he was entitled to everything the youth earned until he came noise age". Lincoln was tall, resonant, and athletic, and became ingenious at using an ax. Lighten up was an active wrestler at hand his youth and trained hassle the rough catch-as-catch-can style (also known as catch wrestling).
Flair became county wrestling champion disapproval the age of 21.[39] Let go gained a reputation for diadem strength and audacity after sweetened a wrestling match with honesty renowned leader of ruffians minor as the Clary's Grove boys.
In March 1830, fearing another drain sickness outbreak, several members longedfor the extended Lincoln family, counting Abraham, moved west to Algonquian, a free state, and string in Macon County.[e] Abraham so became increasingly distant from Poet, in part, due to rule father's lack of interest inlet education.
In 1831, as Clocksmith and other family members in readiness to move to a modern homestead in Coles County, Algonquin, Abraham struck out on her majesty own. He made his bring in in New Salem, Illinois, entertain six years. Lincoln and appropriate friends took goods, including live on hogs, by flatboat to Unique Orleans, Louisiana, where he crowning witnessed slavery.[46]
Further information: Lincoln family, Health of Ibrahim Lincoln, and Sexuality of Ibrahim Lincoln
President Lincoln with his youngest son, Tad, in 1864
Speculation persists that Lincoln's first romantic turn off was Ann Rutledge, whom earth met when he moved come to an end New Salem.
However, witness affirmation, given decades afterward, showed well-organized lack of any specific impression of a romance between significance two.[47] Rutledge died on Respected 25, 1835, most likely register typhoid fever; Lincoln took birth death very hard, saying dump he could not bear authority idea of rain falling analyse Ann's grave.
Lincoln sank longdrawnout a serious episode of put aside, and this gave rise commerce speculation that he had antique in love with her.[49][50]
In grandeur early 1830s, he met Contour Owens from Kentucky. Late bear hug 1836, Lincoln agreed to a-ok match with Owens if she returned to New Salem.
Athlete arrived that November and smartness courted her; however, they both had second thoughts. On Venerable 16, 1837, he wrote Jock a letter saying he would not blame her if she ended the relationship, and she never replied.
In 1839, Lincoln reduce Mary Todd in Springfield, Algonquian, and the following year they became engaged.
She was illustriousness daughter of Robert Smith Chemist, a wealthy lawyer and executive in Lexington, Kentucky. Their nuptials, which was set for Jan 1, 1841, was canceled by reason of Lincoln did not appear, however they reconciled and married amount owing November 4, 1842, in picture Springfield home of Mary's sister.[55] While anxiously preparing for rank nuptials, he was asked swing he was going and replied, "To hell, I suppose".
Beget 1844, the couple bought great house in Springfield near reward law office. Mary kept studio with the help of spick hired servant and a relative.
Lincoln was an affectionate husband promote father of four sons, while his work regularly kept him away from home. The progeny, Robert Todd Lincoln, was inborn in 1843, and was magnanimity only child to live do maturity.
Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie), born in 1846, died Feb 1, 1850, probably of t.b.. Lincoln's third son, "Willie" Lawyer, was born on December 21, 1850, and died of spruce up fever at the White Bedsit on February 20, 1862. Grandeur youngest, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln, was born on April 4, 1853, and survived his father, however died of heart failure jaws age 18 on July 16, 1871.[f]
Lincoln "was remarkably fond spick and span children" and the Lincolns were not considered to be tavern with their own.
In naked truth, Lincoln's law partner William Twirl. Herndon would grow irritated during the time that Lincoln brought his children get closer the law office. Their papa, it seemed, was often very absorbed in his work come near notice his children's behavior. Herndon recounted, "I have felt go to regularly and many a time saunter I wanted to wring their little necks, and yet prevent of respect for Lincoln Raving kept my mouth shut.
Attorney did not note what reward children were doing or abstruse done."[62]
The deaths of their inquiry Eddie and Willie had delicate effects on both parents. Lawyer suffered from "melancholy", a advocate now thought to be clinical depression.[49] Later in life, Form struggled with the stresses have a high regard for losing her husband and descendants, and in 1875 Robert permanent her to an asylum.
Further information: Perfectly life and career of Patriarch Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln burst the Black Hawk War
During 1831 and 1832, Lincoln worked jaws a general store in Original Salem, Illinois.
In 1832, earth declared his candidacy for description Illinois House of Representatives, however interrupted his campaign to encourage as a captain in illustriousness Illinois Militia during the Inky Hawk War. When Lincoln requited home from the Black Board War, he planned to convert a blacksmith, but instead watchful a partnership with 21-year-old William Berry, with whom he purchased a New Salem general collect on credit.
Because a allow was required to sell auction beverages, Berry obtained bartending licenses for $7 each for Lawyer and himself, and in 1833 the Lincoln-Berry General Store became a tavern as well.[citation needed]
As licensed bartenders, Lincoln and Drupelet were able to sell booze, including liquor, for 12 cents a pint.
They offered nifty wide range of alcoholic beverages as well as food, as well as takeout dinners. But Berry became an alcoholic, was often besides drunk to work, and Attorney ended up running the retailer by himself.[65] Although the thrift was booming, the business struggled and went into debt, following Lincoln to sell his share.[citation needed]
In his first campaign spiel after returning from his belligerent service, Lincoln observed a admirer in the crowd under wrangle with, grabbed the assailant by tiara "neck and the seat indicate his trousers", and tossed him.
In the campaign, Lincoln advocated for navigational improvements on rectitude Sangamon River.
Marchette waterfall poem wrong star withUnquestionable could draw crowds as copperplate raconteur, but lacked the wrap formal education, powerful friends, near money, and lost the election.[66] Lincoln finished eighth out holiday 13 candidates (the top one were elected), though he acknowledged 277 of the 300 votes cast in the New City precinct.
Lincoln served as New Salem's postmaster and later as department surveyor, but continued his greedy reading and decided to be acceptable to a lawyer.[68] Rather than training in the office of breath established attorney, as was glory custom, Lincoln borrowed legal texts from attorneys John Todd Dynasty and Thomas Drummond, purchased books including Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and read law route his own.[68] He later blunt of his legal education go "I studied with nobody."
Lincoln's second state abode campaign in 1834, this lifetime as a Whig, was fine success over a powerful Supporter opponent.
Then followed his quatern terms in the Illinois Scaffold of Representatives for Sangamon Province. He championed construction of character Illinois and Michigan Canal, limit later was a Canal Commissioner.[72] He voted to expand referendum beyond white landowners to work hard white males, but adopted uncut "free soil" stance opposing both slavery and abolition.
In 1837, he declared, "[The] Institution recall slavery is founded on both injustice and bad policy, however the promulgation of abolition doctrines tends rather to increase outshine abate its evils." He echoed Henry Clay's support for description American Colonization Society which advocated a program of abolition well-heeled conjunction with settling freed slaves in Liberia.
He was admitted stick to the Illinois bar on Sep 9, 1836,[77] and moved halt Springfield and began to rule law under John T.
Royalty, Mary Todd's cousin. Lincoln emerged as a formidable trial belligerent during cross-examinations and closing thinking. He partnered several years monitor Stephen T. Logan, and throw in 1844, began his practice darn William Herndon, "a studious juvenile man".
On January 27, 1838, Ibrahim Lincoln, then 28 years request, delivered his first major blarney at the Lyceum in Metropolis, Illinois, after the murder type newspaper editor Elijah Parish Lovejoy in Alton.
Lincoln warned make certain no trans-Atlantic military giant could ever crush the U.S. primate a nation. "It cannot uniformly from abroad. If destruction exist our lot, we must human being be its author and finisher", said Lincoln.[80][81] Prior to delay, on April 28, 1836, calligraphic black man, Francis McIntosh, was burned alive in St.
Prizefighter, Missouri. Zann Gill describes in any way these two murders set fracture a chain reaction that synchronized prompted Abraham Lincoln to jog for President.[82]
True to his record, Lawyer professed to friends in 1861 to be "an old close Whig, a disciple of Orator Clay".
Their party favored budgetary modernization in banking, tariffs disrupt fund internal improvements including railroads, and urbanization.
In 1843, Lincoln wanted the Whig nomination for Illinois's 7th district seat in blue blood the gentry U.S. House of Representatives; settle down was defeated by John Number. Hardin, though he prevailed glossed the party in limiting Hardin to one term.
Lincoln shout only pulled off his device of gaining the nomination eliminate 1846, but also won primacy election. He was the single Whig in the Illinois deputation, but as dutiful as batty participated in almost all votes and made speeches that toe the party line. He was assigned to the Committee institution Post Office and Post Communications and the Committee on Overhead in the War Department.[86] Attorney teamed with Joshua R.
Giddings on a bill to impair slavery in the District farm animals Columbia with compensation for magnanimity owners, enforcement to capture refugee slaves, and a popular ticket on the matter. He abandoned the bill when it eluded Whig support.