Always Something to Learn about Abraham Lincoln
Did you know that Abraham Lincoln didn't really like to be called Abe? He usually signed his professional correspondence as "A. Lincoln," and his personal correspondence as "Lincoln." In fact, even his wife called him Lincoln.
A little something about this picture. This is Lincoln in 1857, a year before the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. It was one of the first cuts widely distributed. Yes, even then, people noticed his dishevled hair!
You know the basic facts: sixteenth president of the United States, the Great Emancipator (responsible for Emancipation Proclamation and Thirteenth Amendment), and arguably the president who faced the toughest challenge in American history. In fact, I believe him to rival a president he admired: George Washington.
I've been a student of Lincoln history for over a decade and still learn something I didn't know about him nearly every day. I hope you'll learn something from this Abraham Lincoln lens, too.
Best One-Volume Biography
The Authoritative Abraham Lincoln Biography
Blog: A Few Appropriate Remarks
What Lincoln Said About: Success
"Success does not so much depend on external help as on self-reliance."
--Address on Colonization, August 14, 1862
--Address on Colonization, August 14, 1862
Abraham Lincoln Chronology (His Father's Son)
Important Events in Lincoln's Life
- 1809, Feb 12: Born in Hardin County (now LaRue County), Kentucky, to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. He is their second child.
- 1816, Nov xx: Moves from Kentucky to Indiana.
- 1818, Oct 05: Mother (Nancy Hanks Lincoln) dies of "milk sickness."
- 1819, Dec 02: Father (Thomas) marries Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow.
- 1827, Summer: Hired by James Taylor to run the ferry across Anderson River.
- 1828, Jan 20: Sister (Sarah Lincoln Grigsby) dies in childbirth.
- 1828, Apr xx: Hired by James Gentry to accompany his son Allen to haul goods on a flatboat to New Orleans.
Abraham Lincoln Chronology (His 20s)
Important Events in Lincoln's Life
- 1830, Feb 12: Upon 21st birthday, Lincoln is no longer required by law to work for his father. He is now rightfully his own man.
- 1830, Mar 01: Family starts move from Indiana to Illinois.
- 1831, Mar xx: Hired by Denton Offutt to build flatboat and take load of produce to New Orleans.
- 1832, Mar 09: Announces candidacy for Illinois State Legislature. (Is defeated August 6.)
- 1832, Apr 21: Elected captain of his company during first enlistment in Black Hawk War.
- 1832, Fall: Buys partnership in New Salem store.
- 1833, May 07: Appointed postmaster at New Salem.
- 1834, Jan 14: Submits first known report as deputy surveyor in Sangamon County.
- 1834, Aug 04: Elected to Illinois State Legislature for first time.
- 1834, Aug xx: Starts to study law. Buys copy of "Blackstone" at auction.
- 1835, Aug 25. Ann Rutledge dies. Lincoln clearly had feelings for her, but level of romantic commitment with the "couple" is controversial. Ann was actually engaged to another man at the time of her death.
- 1836, Mar 24: Sworn in as a lawyer at the Circuit Court of Sangamon.
- 1836, Sep 09: Licensed to practice law.
- 1837, Mar 01: Admitted to the bar of Illinois.
- 1837, Mar 15: Moves from New Salem to Springfield.
- 1837, Apr 12: Form law partnership with John T. Stuart.
Lincoln Lore: A Must-Have Reference for Serious Lincoln Scholars
Complete Index is Online at EverythingLincoln.com
Lincoln Lore began as a weekly publication from the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in 1929. Its editor, Louis Austin Warren, intended it as a clip sheet from which newspapers could draw as filler material for their papers. Warren was surprised to learn that many kept this bulletin for reference.
I've compiled a comprehensive Lincoln Lore Title Index, in numerical order by issue number. Lincoln Lore is now a multi-page journal published quarterly by the Lincoln Museum.
I've compiled a comprehensive Lincoln Lore Title Index, in numerical order by issue number. Lincoln Lore is now a multi-page journal published quarterly by the Lincoln Museum.
Abraham Lincoln Chronology (His 30s)
Important Events in Lincoln's Life
- 1839, Feb 12: Abraham Lincoln turns 30.
- 1841, May 14: Enters law partnership with Stephen T. Logan.
- 1842, Nov 04: Marries highly-educated, wealthy, and beautiful Mary Todd at Springfield.
- 1843, Aug 01: Robert "Bobby" Todd Lincoln born.
- 1844, Jan 07: Buys home in Springfield. It will be the only home he ever owns.
- 1844, Sep 20: Enters law partnership with William Herndon.
- 1846, Mar 10: Edward Baker Lincoln born.
- 1846, Aug xx: Elected as respresentative to Congress.
- 1847, Dec 06: Takes seat in the Thirtieth Congress of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln on eBay
Abraham Lincoln Resource Sites
Be sure to surf these sites for more great Lincoln info
- Abraham Lincoln Association
- I'm a member of this org and highly recommend it.
- Everything Lincoln
- Site includes a podcast. Web site is created by yours truly!
- Lincoln Museum
- Publisher of Lincoln Lore.
- Abraham Lincoln Reference Site
- Former history teacher maintains this long-standing site.
- Lincoln Herald
- Lincoln Herald is another great Lincoln publication.
- Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
- Really nice overview site by the gov: Bicentennial Commission--2009 is here!
Abraham Lincoln Chronology (His 40s)
Important Events in Lincoln's Life
- 1849, Feb 12: Abraham Lincoln turns 40.
- 1850, Feb 01: Edward "Eddy" Baker Lincoln dies.
- 1850, Dec 21: William "Willie" Wallace Lincoln born.
- 1851, Jan 17: Father (Thomas Lincoln) dies.
- 1853, Apr 04: Thomas "Tad" Lincoln born. (No middle name or initial; named for father.)
- 1855, Feb 08: Defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
- 1858, Jun 16: Delivers "House Divided" Speech.
- 1858, Aug 21: Lincoln starts a series of debates with Stephen A. Douglas at Ottawa, IL. These debates are now known as the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. They gave him nationwide acclaim and revealed his stance on important issues of the day.
- 1858, Nov 02: Defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
What Lincoln Said About: Resolve
"If you falter and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and will regret it all your life."
Abraham Lincoln Chronology (His 50s)
Important Events in Lincoln's Life
- 1859, Feb 12: Abraham Lincoln turns 50.
- 1860, Feb 27: Delivers Cooper Union Address.
- 1860, May 18: Nominated for presidency by Republican National Convention in Chicago.
- 1860, Nov 06: Elected 16th President of the United States.
- 1861, Mar 04: Inaugurated President of the United States.
- ** MORE TO BE FILLED IN HERE **
- 1865, Apr 14: Lincoln and Mary, Major Rathbone and his fiance, attend Ford's Theatre. During the performance of "Our American Cousin," actor John Wilkes Booth waits for a part in the play when the audience will laugh, then shoots Lincoln in the head.
- 1865, Apr 15: At 7:22 AM, Lincoln dies in bed at the Petersen house across the street from Ford's Theatre.
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Tad Lincoln Pleads His Case
The Doll Jack is Pardoned by Order of the President
Tad had a soldier doll he named Jack. Poor Jack was constantly getting court marshalled and sentenced to execution by Tad and Willie and their neighbor boys. One day, the gardener tired of Jack being buried for the umpteenth time and suggested that Tad ask President Lincoln for a pardon.
Ruth Painter Randall, in her book Lincoln's Sons, tells the rest of the story:
"Tad delivered his argument in a rush of words: almost every day they tried Jack for being a spy or deserter or something and then they shot him and buried him and Julie said it spoiled his clothes and Major Watt said it dug up his roses so they thought they would get Pa to fix up a pardon.
"The President considered these facts with due gravity and then told Tad he thought he had made a case. It was a good law, he said, that no man shall twice be put in jeopardy of his life for the same offense. Since Jack had been shot and buried a dozen times, he was entitled to a pardon. Turning to his desk, on which so many pardons were to be signed, he wrote on his official paper:
"The Doll Jack is pardoned by order of the President.
A. Lincoln"
[You can read the entire story here]
Ruth Painter Randall, in her book Lincoln's Sons, tells the rest of the story:
"Tad delivered his argument in a rush of words: almost every day they tried Jack for being a spy or deserter or something and then they shot him and buried him and Julie said it spoiled his clothes and Major Watt said it dug up his roses so they thought they would get Pa to fix up a pardon.
"The President considered these facts with due gravity and then told Tad he thought he had made a case. It was a good law, he said, that no man shall twice be put in jeopardy of his life for the same offense. Since Jack had been shot and buried a dozen times, he was entitled to a pardon. Turning to his desk, on which so many pardons were to be signed, he wrote on his official paper:
"The Doll Jack is pardoned by order of the President.
A. Lincoln"
[You can read the entire story here]
Fantastic and Endearing: "Lincoln's Sons"
Now out of print, so get it used on Amazon
Gettysburg Address
Four score and seven years ago...
- Read the real Gettysburg Address
- Edward Everett was the primary speaker at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery; read Lincoln's note to Everett
- Read a fantastic spoof of PowerPoint by reading Peter Norvig's PowerPoint version of the Gettysburg Address
- Be sure to read my Squidoo Lens on the Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln and Gettysburg
References
The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows by Gabor Boritt
Just got this book and haven't had time to get int more...1 point
Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America (Simon & Schuster Lincoln Library) by Garry Wills
This is an excellent resource. Much time up front more...0 points
What Lincoln Said About: Education
1832
"Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in. That every man may receive at least a moderate education, and thereby be enabled to read the histories of his own and other countries, by which he may duly appreciate the value of our free institutions, appears to be an object of vital importance, even on this account only, to say nothing of the advantage and satisfaction to be derived from all being able to read the Scriptures and other works both of a religious and moral nature, for themselves.
"For my part, I desire to see the time when education--and by this means, morality, sobriety, enterprise, and industry--shall become much more general than at present, and should be gratified to have it in my power to contribute something to the advancement of any measure which might have a tendency to accelerate that happy period."
"For my part, I desire to see the time when education--and by this means, morality, sobriety, enterprise, and industry--shall become much more general than at present, and should be gratified to have it in my power to contribute something to the advancement of any measure which might have a tendency to accelerate that happy period."
Lincoln was First U.S. President on a Circulating Coin
Theodore Roosevelt is responsible for having the Treasury Department redesign the penny to celebrate the centennial of Lincoln's birth in 1909. It was the first time a president had appeared on a U.S. coin--and lots of people were unhappy about it.Today, Lincoln also appears on the state quarter honoring Illinois, and on the commemorative Illinois centennial half dollar. You can be sure that he'll appear on an upcoming commemorative dollar (2009) as well as in the Presidential Dollar series (2010).
You can read more about Lincoln on U.S. coins here at my Lincoln Coins lens.
A YouTube Visit to the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln on Amazon Kindle
by reneegentry
Renee Gentry is a published author and an amateur historian. She has studied Lincoln for more than a decade.
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