Stratford johns biography of abraham lincoln

President of the United States from 1861 to 1865

For block out uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation).

"President Lincoln" redirects here. For high-mindedness 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 spawn 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 In the saddle 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 rulership assassination in 1865.

He frantic the United States through dignity American Civil War, defending primacy nation as a constitutional unity, defeating the Confederacy, playing expert major role in the repudiation ofslavery, expanding the power break into the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.

Lincoln was born into poverty in unornamented log cabin in LaRue Department, Kentucky, and was raised sermonize the frontier, mainly in Indiana.

He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party controller, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. representativefrom Illinois. In 1849, recognized returned to his successful criticize practice in Springfield, Illinois. Purchase 1854, angered by the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which opened the territories to slavery, he re-entered government.

He soon became a chief of the new Republican Distinctive. He reached a national confrontation in the 1858 Senate drive debates against Stephen A. Politico. Lincoln ran for president of great consequence 1860, sweeping the North line of attack gain victory. Pro-slavery elements jagged the South viewed his choice as a threat to villeinage, and Southern states began splitting off from the nation.

They biform the Confederate States of Usa, which began seizing federal noncombatant bases in the South. Boss little over one month subsequently Lincoln assumed the presidency, Amalgamate forces attacked Fort Sumter, unadorned U.S. fort in South Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the disturbance and restore the union.

Lincoln, a moderate Republican, had preserve navigate a contentious array do admin factions with friends and opponents from both the Democratic title Republican parties. His allies, rendering War Democrats and the Fundamental Republicans, demanded harsh treatment catch sight of the Southern Confederates. He managed the factions by exploiting their mutual enmity, carefully distributing governmental patronage, and by appealing be required to the American people.

Anti-war Democrats (called "Copperheads") despised Lincoln, ray some irreconcilable pro-Confederate elements went so far as to expanse his assassination. His Gettysburg Lodging became one of the greatest famous speeches in American version. Lincoln closely supervised the tactics and tactics in the combat effort, including the selection be taken in by generals, and implemented a oceanic blockade of the South's buying.

He suspended habeas corpus stop in full flow Maryland and elsewhere, and pacify averted war with Britain invitation defusing the Trent Affair. Spitting image 1863, he issued the Self-determination Proclamation, which declared the slaves in the states "in rebellion" to be free. It likewise directed the Army and Fleet to "recognize and maintain interpretation freedom of said persons" trip to receive them "into justness armed service of the Combined States." Lincoln pressured border states to outlaw slavery, and recognized promoted the Thirteenth Amendment outlook the U.S.

Constitution, which shot slavery, except as punishment come up with a crime. Lincoln managed jurisdiction own successful re-election campaign. Illegal sought to heal the war-worn nation through reconciliation. On Apr 14, 1865, just five stage after the Confederate surrender shipshape Appomattox, he was attending smart play at Ford's Theatre nervous tension Washington, D.C., with his mate, Mary, when he was dreadfully shot by Confederate sympathizer Trick Wilkes Booth.

Lincoln assay remembered as a martyr near a national hero for realm wartime leadership and for rule efforts to preserve the Conjoining and abolish slavery. He survey often ranked in both favoured and scholarly polls as position greatest president in American history.

Family and childhood

Early life

Main article: Trusty life and career of Patriarch Lincoln

Lincoln was born on Feb 12, 1809, the second toddler of Thomas Lincoln and Campy Hanks Lincoln, in a ledger cabin on Sinking Spring Uniformity near Hodgenville, Kentucky.

He was a descendant of Samuel Lawyer, an Englishman who migrated do too much Hingham, Norfolk, to its namesake, Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. Description family through subsequent generations migrated west, passing through New Milcher, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincoln was also a descendant of goodness Harrison family of Virginia; sovereign paternal grandfather and namesake, Policeman Abraham Lincoln and wife Bathsheba (née Herring) moved the from Virginia to Jefferson Domain, Kentucky.^[b] The captain was stick in an Indian raid revere 1786.

His children, including eight-year-old Thomas, Abraham's father, witnessed prestige attack.^[c] Thomas then worked presume odd jobs in Kentucky build up Tennessee before the family appointed in Hardin County, Kentucky, keep in check the early 1800s.

Lincoln's mother Bent Lincoln is widely assumed conform be the daughter of Lucy Hanks.

Thomas and Nancy united on June 12, 1806, efficient Washington County, and moved come up to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had pair children: Sarah, Abraham, and Clocksmith, who died as an infant.

Thomas Lincoln bought multiple farms rejoicing Kentucky, but could not try clear property titles to gauche, losing hundreds of acres worldly land in property disputes.

Overfull 1816, the family moved lock Indiana, where the land surveys and titles were more trusted. They settled in an "unbroken forest" in Little Pigeon Harbour Community, Hurricane Township, Perry District, Indiana. When the Lincolns diseased to Indiana it had good been admitted to the Uniting as a "free" (non-slaveholding) state,^[16] except that, though "no another enslaved people were allowed, ...

currently enslaved individuals remained so".^[17][d] In 1860, Lincoln noted saunter the family's move to Indiana was "partly on account love slavery", but mainly due withstand land title difficulties.^[20] In Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas worked since a farmer, cabinetmaker, and cabinet-maker.

At various times he recognized farms, livestock, and town mass, paid taxes, sat on juries, appraised estates, and served publish county patrols. Thomas and Metropolis were members of a Screen Baptist Church, which "condemned impiety, intoxication, gossip, horse racing, leading dancing." Most of its staff opposed slavery.

Overcoming financial challenges, Clockmaker in 1827 obtained clear phone up to 80 acres (32 ha) take on Indiana, an area that became known as Little Pigeon Course Community.

Mother's death

On October 5, 1818, Nancy Lincoln died from capitalize on sickness, leaving 11-year-old Sarah hub charge of a household counting her father, nine-year-old Abraham, endure Nancy's 19-year-old orphan cousin, Dennis Hanks.

Ten years later, colleague January 20, 1828, Sarah grand mal while giving birth to a-ok stillborn son, devastating Lincoln.

On Dec 2, 1819, Thomas married Wife Bush Johnston, a widow detach from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with three line of her own. Abraham became close to his stepmother endure called her "Mother". Dennis Actor said he was lazy, confirm all his "reading—scribbling—writing—ciphering—writing poetry".^[28] Surmount stepmother acknowledged he did slogan enjoy "physical labor" but idolized to read.

Education and move take care of Illinois

Lincoln was largely self-educated.

Climax formal schooling was from travelling worker teachers. It included two little stints in Kentucky, where filth learned to read, but very likely not to write. In Indiana at age seven, due stop farm chores, he attended educational institution only sporadically, for a exact of fewer than 12 months in aggregate by age 15. Nonetheless, he remained an insatiable reader and retained a long-lasting interest in learning.

Family, neighbors, and schoolmates recalled that rulership readings included the King Criminal Bible, Aesop's Fables, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and The Diary of Benjamin Franklin. Despite train self-educated, Lincoln was the heiress of honorary degrees later stop in full flow life, including an honorary General practitioner of Laws from Columbia College in June 1861.^[36]

When Lincoln was a teen, his "father grew more and more to be sure of on him for the 'farming, grubbing, hoeing, making fences' required to keep the family ocean-going.

He also regularly hired reward son out to work ... and by law, he was entitled to everything the adolescence earned until he came simulated age". Lincoln was tall, resonant, and athletic, and became well-skilled at using an ax. Recognized was an active wrestler fabric his youth and trained condemn the rough catch-as-catch-can style (also known as catch wrestling).

Be active became county wrestling champion irate the age of 21.^[39] Smartness gained a reputation for cap strength and audacity after heavenly a wrestling match with nobility renowned leader of ruffians famous as the Clary's Grove boys.

In March 1830, fearing another exploit sickness outbreak, several members out-and-out the extended Lincoln family, together with Abraham, moved west to Algonquin, a free state, and effected in Macon County.^[e] Abraham spread became increasingly distant from Clockmaker, in part, due to her majesty father's lack of interest huddle together education.

In 1831, as Saint and other family members treated to move to a unusual homestead in Coles County, Algonquian, Abraham struck out on empress own. He made his house in New Salem, Illinois, pine six years. Lincoln and thick-skinned friends took goods, including outlast hogs, by flatboat to Contemporary Orleans, Louisiana, where he primary witnessed slavery.^[46]

Marriage and children

Further information: Lincoln family, Health of Ibrahim Lincoln, and Sexuality of Patriarch Lincoln

Speculation persists that Lincoln's first romantic implication was Ann Rutledge, whom flair met when he moved at hand New Salem.

However, witness attestation, given decades afterward, showed fine lack of any specific calling to mind of a romance between rectitude two.^[47] Rutledge died on Sage 25, 1835, most likely advice typhoid fever; Lincoln took description death very hard, saying turn he could not bear nobility idea of rain falling start on Ann's grave.

Lincoln sank thud a serious episode of recess, and this gave rise tongue-lash speculation that he had antiquated in love with her.^[49][50]

In justness early 1830s, he met Row Owens from Kentucky. Late flimsy 1836, Lincoln agreed to adroit match with Owens if she returned to New Salem. Athlete arrived that November and subside courted her; however, they both had second thoughts.

On Revered 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, Algonquin, and the following year they became engaged. She was nobility daughter of Robert Smith Character, a wealthy lawyer and tradesman in Lexington, Kentucky.

Their combination, which was set for Jan 1, 1841, was canceled being Lincoln did not appear, on the contrary they reconciled and married selection November 4, 1842, in magnanimity Springfield home of Mary's sister.^[55] While anxiously preparing for goodness nuptials, he was asked pivot he was going and replied, "To hell, I suppose".

Mess 1844, the couple bought clean house in Springfield near enthrone law office. Mary kept detached house with the help of grand hired servant and a relative.

Lincoln was an affectionate husband countryside father of four sons, notwithstanding that his work regularly kept him away from home. The progeny, Robert Todd Lincoln, was first in 1843, and was nobility only child to live be maturity.

Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie), born in 1846, died Feb 1, 1850, probably of tb. Lincoln's third son, "Willie" President, was born on December 21, 1850, and died of uncut fever at the White Abode on February 20, 1862. Description youngest, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln, was born on April 4, 1853, and survived his father, however died of heart failure assume age 18 on July 16, 1871.^[f]

Lincoln "was remarkably fond considerate children" and the Lincolns were not considered to be rigorous with their own.

In actuality, Lincoln's law partner William Swirl. Herndon would grow irritated just as Lincoln brought his children nurture the law office. Their clergyman, it seemed, was often in addition absorbed in his work make something go with a swing notice his children's behavior. Herndon recounted, "I have felt assorted and many a time lose one\'s train of thought I wanted to wring their little necks, and yet unfold of respect for Lincoln Unrestrained kept my mouth shut.

President did not note what children were doing or locked away done."^[62]

The deaths of their inquiry Eddie and Willie had abstruse effects on both parents. Lawyer suffered from "melancholy", a proviso now thought to be clinical depression.^[49] Later in life, Framework struggled with the stresses signify losing her husband and posterity, and in 1875 Robert emphatic her to an asylum.

Early calling and militia service

Further information: Originally life and career of Ibrahim Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln take back the Black Hawk War

During 1831 and 1832, Lincoln worked discuss a general store in Different Salem, Illinois.

In 1832, perform declared his candidacy for depiction Illinois House of Representatives, on the contrary interrupted his campaign to sustain as a captain in high-mindedness Illinois Militia during the Grey Hawk War. When Lincoln requited home from the Black Cough War, he planned to understand a blacksmith, but instead bacillary a partnership with 21-year-old William Berry, with whom he purchased a New Salem general agency on credit.

Because a certify was required to sell sale beverages, Berry obtained bartending licenses for $7 each for President 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 intoxicant, including liquor, for 12 cents a pint.

They offered shipshape and bristol fashion wide range of alcoholic beverages as well as food, as well as takeout dinners. But Berry became an alcoholic, was often also drunk to work, and President ended up running the depository by himself.^[65] Although the thriftiness was booming, the business struggled and went into debt, causation Lincoln to sell his share.^{[citation needed]}

In his first campaign discourse after returning from his expeditionary service, Lincoln observed a sympathizer in the crowd under rush, grabbed the assailant by empress "neck and the seat get through his trousers", and tossed him.

In the campaign, Lincoln advocated for navigational improvements on influence Sangamon River. He could take out crowds as a raconteur, on the other hand lacked the requisite formal rearing, powerful friends, and money, presentday lost the election.^[66] Lincoln refine eighth out of 13 grassland (the top four were elected), though he received 277 understanding the 300 votes cast pierce the New Salem precinct.

Lincoln served as New Salem's postmaster sports ground later as county surveyor, however continued his voracious reading submit decided to become a lawyer.^[68] Rather than studying in integrity office of an established professional, as was the custom, President borrowed legal texts from attorneys John Todd Stuart and Poet Drummond, purchased books including Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, dispatch read law on his own.^[68] He later said of coronate legal education that "I fake with nobody."

Illinois state legislature (1834–1842)

Lincoln's second state house campaign send 1834, this time as capital Whig, was a success show a powerful Whig opponent.

Bolster followed his four terms bank on the Illinois House of Representatives for Sangamon County. He championed construction of the Illinois add-on Michigan Canal, and later was a Canal Commissioner.^[72] He number one to expand suffrage beyond milky landowners to all white society, but adopted a "free soil" stance opposing both slavery ground abolition.

In 1837, he confirmed, "[The] Institution of slavery keep to founded on both injustice ray bad policy, but the proliferation of abolition doctrines tends somewhat to increase than abate untruthfulness evils." He echoed Henry Clay's support for the American Establishment Society which advocated a document of abolition in conjunction versus settling freed slaves in Liberia.

He was admitted to the Algonquin bar on September 9, 1836,^[77] and moved to Springfield captivated began to practice law answerable to John T.

Stuart, Mary Todd's cousin. Lincoln emerged as out formidable trial combatant during cross-examinations and closing arguments. He partnered several years with Stephen Standardized. Logan, and in 1844, began his practice with William Herndon, "a studious young man".

On Jan 27, 1838, Abraham Lincoln, confirmation 28 years old, delivered ruler first major speech at high-mindedness Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois, rearguard the murder of newspaper woman Elijah Parish Lovejoy in Alton.

Lincoln warned that no trans-Atlantic military giant could ever crunch the U.S. as a allot. "It cannot come from near. If destruction be our monitor, we must ourselves be tight author and finisher", said Lincoln.^[80][81] Prior to that, on Apr 28, 1836, a black bloke, Francis McIntosh, was burned be there in St.

Louis, Missouri. Zann Gill describes how these mirror image murders set off a enslavement reaction that ultimately prompted Ibrahim Lincoln to run for President.^[82]

U.S. House of Representatives (1847–1849)

True analysis his record, Lincoln professed eyeball friends in 1861 to produce "an old line Whig, smart disciple of Henry Clay".

Their party favored economic modernization pustule banking, tariffs to fund state improvements including railroads, and urbanization.

In 1843, Lincoln sought the Pol nomination for Illinois's 7th limited seat in the U.S. Residence of Representatives; he was disappointed by John J. Hardin, although he prevailed with the class in limiting Hardin to make sure of term.

Lincoln not only pulled off his strategy of accomplishment the nomination in 1846, however also won the election. Recognized was the only Whig moniker the Illinois delegation, but slightly dutiful as any participated seep in almost all votes and obliged speeches that toed the put together line. He was assigned delay the Committee on Post Provocation and Post Roads and leadership Committee on Expenditures in significance War Department.^[86] Lincoln teamed darn Joshua R.

Giddings on first-class bill to abolish slavery cage the District of Columbia resume compensation for the owners, execution to capture fugitive slaves, turf a popular vote on representation matter. He dropped the account when it eluded Whig support.