Abraham Lincoln was one of Americas greatest Presidents; here we take a quick look back on his remarkable life and achievements.
Born February 12, 1809 in Harden County, Kentucky, the only child to a poor farming couple, Abraham “Abe” Lincoln spent a good part of his childhood living in a one room log cabin with his parents. Impoverished, Abe’s parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, sadly were unable to maintain the costs of running their farm and were by court order told to leave,the family made a new start in Perry Country, Kentucky, where at just 9 years of age Abe lost his mother to milk poisoning.
Thomas Lincoln soon remarried and after moving several more times the family finally settled in Cole County, Illinois. Because of their economic circumstances, Abe was only able to attend school for a brief 18 months, and educated himself basically by reading as much as his mind could consume, enough so that eventually it lead to as career as a lawyer, although a struggling one. While at the law firm, Mr. Lincoln met his wife to be Mary Todd, at home of one of his colleagues Mary’s brother-in-law. Quick witted like Abe and with an unusual interest in politics for a lady of that era, the two quickly took a liking to each other and were wed on November 4, 1842.
The couple although very much in love found their differences in each others background vast. Educated and refined Mary Todd was raised as a “southern belle”, a rich slave owner’s daughter, found herself struggling as a wife of a poor lawyer. The couple had their first of 4 sons, Robert and followed by Edward and were happy. Propelled by his wife’s prodding Mr. Lincoln joined the political debate circuit and was later elected to a term in congress. Tragedy struck when Lincoln’s son Edward died of a childhood illness. Understandably the family was heartbroken and political ambitions were cast aside as Mr. Lincoln finished his tenure in congress and returned to life as a struggling lawyer. Depressed from the loss of her son, Mary decided that she needed to function again for the sake of her other children and husband Abe, the time might be right to have yet one more child to brighten their home, nine months later the Lincolns had their fourth and final child, a boy once more.
Happy again, the couple focused once more on Lincoln’s political career, but this time they found the nation was divided in it’s view on continuing slavery and at war because of it, the south wanting “succession” or removal from being part of the United States. Mr. Lincoln was once quoted as saying: “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally”, and advocated the limiting of slavery and the preservation of the union. Eventually, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States in 1860.
In 1862 President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law, effectively ending slavery on Jan 1st. of the following year. The President expressed his views of equality “I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free” and stated that the freedom of the slaves would allow them to join the military and help win the Civil war, which they did, and thus preserve the union as a whole.
During this same turbulent time as President, the couple had three remaining children but sadly lost their second child to illness, Willie. Having successfully ended the war and re-elected, Abe decided to focus more time to Mary who was suffering from depression brought on from grief of loosing two children. On the evening of April 14th 1865 while watching a play with his wife in Fords Theater, President Abraham Lincoln, was shot at close range in the back of his head by a southern sympathizer, confederate spy John Wilkes Booth.Booth got away and way later shot and killed, President Lincoln died the next morning.President Lincoln has been since remembered as Americas “Great Emancipator”. Here are 15 fast facts about Abe Lincoln:
#1 Abraham (“Abe”) Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, on his parents 348 acre farm in Hardin county Kentucky.
#5 Thomas Lincoln Abe’s dad, quickly remarried a lady named Sarah Bush Johnston
who was kind to young Abe and he call her mother until her death.
#6 Even though it was customary in the 1800’s to hunt and fish for food, Abe avoided it, as he had a kind heart and respected the lives of the local wildlife.
#7 Abraham Lincoln actually had 18 months of schooling, the rest of his life he spent educating himself.
#8 Abraham Lincoln met his wife Mary Todd at a party hosted by her sister Elizabeth. Unlike the Lincoln’s, the Todd’s were wealthy and educated, but Mary saw past the culture differences and recognized only the strength and goodness of Abe’s mind. It has been said that Robert Todd, Mary’s father “owned” over 200 slaves, including Mary’s beloved “Mammy Sally” who raised Mary after her mother died when she was just 6.
#10 During their marriage, Abe and Mary had four children, Robert (named after Mary’s father), Edward, William “Willie”, Thomas (named after Abe’s father) “tad or Taddie”.
#11 Sadly, all but the Lincoln’s eldest child Robert passed away at young age, due to illnesses that could be easily treated today.
#12 A lawyer, Abe Lincoln started his political career at just 23 years of age.
#13 Although there were stops and starts in Lincolns political life he was elected the 16th President of The United States on November 6th, 1860. His successful win was against Mary Todd Lincoln’s former beau, Stephen A. Douglas.
#14 September 22nd 1862, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery was announced and it later took effect on January 1st 1863. One of Abraham Lincoln’s most famous and clever quotes on slavery is, “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”
#15 Although slavery and the Civil war had ended, a famous actor and confederate spy named John Wilkes Booth resented Lincolns abolishment of slavery and what he thought that meant to the south. On on April 14, 1865 in Fords theater, as he and the first lady watched the play titled “Our American Cousin”. President Lincoln had just taken the first lady’s hand in his own,when Booth came into the Lincoln’s box unnoticed and coldly shot the President at close range in the back of his head. Booth escaped by jumping out of the box to several feet below, breaking his leg, he still got away. The President Lincoln died in a boarding house across from the theater at 7:22 am, April 15th, 1865, he was only 56 years old. Twelve days later Booth was found and shot and killed by an officer. Abraham Lincoln’s body was laid in state in the east room of the White House, as Lincoln himself once eerily dreamed. The presidents remains where carried by train in a funeral procession through 9 states on its 1’700 mile trip back to Illinois.On that same train were the exhumed remains of the presidents son Willie, who had die of a childhood illness earlier. He was to be buried with his father. It is estimated that 4 million people came to watch the train go by including former slaves, to bid a sad farewell to Americas favorite President Abraham Lincoln.
