Abraham Lincoln
| Abraham Lincoln | |
|---|---|
| |
| Order | 16th President of the United States |
| In office | March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 |
| Vice President | Hannibal Hamlin (1861–1865) Andrew Johnson (1865) |
| Preceded by | James Buchanan |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Johnson |
| Born | February 12, 1809 Hodgenville, Kentucky, United States |
| Political Party | Republican (later National Union) |
| Spouse | Mary Todd Lincoln (m. 1842–1865) |
| Children | 4 (including Robert Todd Lincoln) |
| Profession | Lawyer, politician |
| Alma mater | Self-educated |
| Signature | 
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Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is best remembered for leading the country through the Civil War, preserving the Union, and abolishing slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment.
Early Life and Career
Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky and raised in frontier Indiana. Entirely self-educated, he became a lawyer in Illinois and served in the state legislature and one term in Congress. He rose to national prominence through debates with Stephen A. Douglas and was elected president in 1860.
Presidency and Civil War
Lincoln’s election triggered the secession of Southern states and the start of the American Civil War. His presidency was dominated by the war and his efforts to reunite the country. Key actions include:
- Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), freeing slaves in Confederate states
- Delivering the Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous speeches in American history
- Promoting the Thirteenth Amendment, which permanently abolished slavery
- Preserving federal authority and the U.S. Constitution through wartime crisis
Assassination
On April 14, 1865 — just days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered — Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre by actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. He died the next morning, becoming the first U.S. president to be assassinated.
Legacy
Abraham Lincoln is consistently ranked among the greatest presidents in American history. Revered for his leadership, moral clarity, humility, and powerful oratory, Lincoln reshaped the meaning of American freedom. His legacy is commemorated in the Lincoln Memorial, on U.S. currency, and in the hearts of millions.