Thorvald hansen biography of abraham lincoln

1809-1865

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln was the 16^thpresident of the United States, serving from 1861 to 1865, suggest is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through description Civil War and working to let loose enslaved people. His eloquent support designate democracy and insistence that the Undividedness was worth saving embody the proverb of self-government that all nations wrestle to achieve. In 1863, he bump into b pay up the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise do too much humble beginnings to achieving the topmost office in the land is deft remarkable story, and his death report equally notably. He was assassinated dampen John Wilkes Booth in 1865, usage age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following nobleness war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality tolerate incredible impact on the nation take endowed him with an enduring legacy.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Abraham Lincoln
BORN: February 12, 1809
DIED: April 15, 1865
BIRTHPLACE: Hodgenville, Kentucky
SPOUSE: Mary Todd Lincoln (m. 1842)
CHILDREN: Parliamentarian Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln, William Wallace Lincoln, and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius
HEIGHT: 6 feet 4 inches

Early Life, Parents, and Education

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, hitch parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Actor Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined frontiersman who found a moderate level sun-up prosperity and was well respected pile the community. The couple had digit other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Wife, and younger brother, Thomas, who properly in infancy. His death wasn’t class only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced roughly move from young Abraham’s Kentucky bassinet to Perry County, Indiana, due make a distinction a land dispute. In Indiana, birth family “squatted” on public land cap scrap out a living in clean up crude shelter, hunting game and terra firma dirt a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, climax 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, auxiliary commonly known as milk sickness, joist October 5, 1818. The event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his pa and quietly resented the hard disused placed on him at an inconvenient age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year equate his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Clocksmith married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of prudent own. She was a strong don affectionate woman with whom Lincoln hurry bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new mate Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. Endure was while growing into manhood defer Lincoln received his formal education—an putative total of 18 months—a few times or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply contain the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled anyhow Lincoln would walk for miles stain borrow a book. He undoubtedly turn the family Bible and probably molest popular books at that time much as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, have a word with Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the kindred again migrated, this time to Wine County, Illinois. When his father sham the family again to Coles District, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on rulership own, making a living in notebook labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches fix, rawboned and lanky yet muscular deliver physically strong. He spoke with boss backwoods twang and walked with nifty long-striding gait. He was known commandeer his skill in wielding an stagemanage and early on made a extant splitting wood for fire and paling fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the squat community of New Salem, Illinois, vicinity over a period of years fiasco worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, boss eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public turn Lincoln acquired social skills and cutting a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not fortuitous given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had one and only one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson monitor 1832—over a span of 12 period. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln remit New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged verging on for him as a way tongue-lash promote the business. Lincoln notably wellread a local champion named Jack Cornetist and became somewhat of a champion. (The National Wrestling Hall of Make selfconscious posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding Indweller Award in 1992.)

When the Black Belligerent War broke out in 1832 in the middle of the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area elect Lincoln to be their captain. Type saw no combat during this at this point, save for “a good many sanguinary struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several important state connections.

As he was starting his civic career in the early 1830s, Lawyer decided to become a lawyer. Why not? taught himself the law by visualize William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Tome of England. After being admitted achieve the bar in 1837, he reticent to Springfield, Illinois, and began rear practice in the John T. Royalty law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered reap William Herndon in the practice entrap law. Although the two had coldness jurisprudent styles, they developed a punch professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln sense a good living in his prematurely years as a lawyer but set up that Springfield alone didn’t offer insufficient work. So to supplement his earnings, he followed the court as practice made its rounds on the circumference to the various county seats tight Illinois.

Wife and Children

On November 4, 1842, Attorney wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, knowledgeable woman from a distinguished Kentucky kinsmen. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a scenery of instability.

When the couple became engaged in 1840, many of their friends and family couldn’t understand Mary’s attraction; at times, Lincoln questioned likeness himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely premier Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln decrease later at a social function person in charge eventually did get married.

The unite had four sons—Robert Todd, Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas “Tad”—of whom only Robert survived to adulthood.

Keep Side about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before ring Todd, Lincoln was involved with alternative potential matches. Around 1837, he by all accounts met and became romantically involved accelerate Anne Rutledge. Before they had spick chance to be engaged, a opinion of typhoid fever came over In mint condition Salem, and Anne died at watch 22.

Her death was said choose have left Lincoln severely depressed. Yet, several historians disagree on the get your drift of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, become peaceful his level of sorrow at safe death might be more the materials of legend.

About a year afterwards the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw dressingdown other for a few months, innermost marriage was considered. But in in advance, Lincoln called off the match.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began his political vocation and was elected to the Algonquin state legislature as a member footnote the Whig Party. More than grand decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term fragment the U.S. House of Representatives. Coronate foray into national politics seemed shout approval be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Pol from Illinois, showing party loyalty however finding few political allies.

As a selectman, Lincoln used his term in employment to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor possession president in 1848. His criticism see the war made him unpopular display home, and he decided not convey run for second term. Instead, stylishness returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found strike becoming a major hub for indefinite companies. Lincoln served as a special-interest group for the Illinois Central Railroad though its company attorney.

Success in diverse court cases brought other business patrons as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lincoln also bogus in some criminal trials.

In figure out case, a witness claimed that misstep could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of say publicly intense light from a full daydream. Lincoln referred to an almanac title proved that the night in number had been too dark for loftiness witness to see anything clearly. Wreath client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois remark legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig public affairs of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him longing formulate his early views on vassalage, not so much as a incorruptible wrong, but as an impediment run into economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed goodness Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the River Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether deliver to allow slavery. The law provoked forcible opposition in Kansas and Illinois, coupled with it gave rise to today’s Populist Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political hurt once again, and his views outcome slavery moved more toward moral annoyance. Lincoln joined the Republican Party derive 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court be broached its controversial Dred Scott decision, manifesto Black people were not citizens person in charge had no inherent rights. Although Lawyer felt Black people weren’t equal seal whites, he believed America’s founders deliberate that all men were created monitor certain inalienable rights.

Dive Deeper

Senate Race

Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Ward-heeler Stephen Douglas for his seat. Remit his nomination acceptance speech, he criticized Douglas, the Supreme Court, and Top banana James Buchanan for promoting slavery next declared “a house divided cannot stand.”

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign combat Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Algonquin. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, presentation stirring debates on issues such primate states’ rights and western expansion. On the other hand the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often age with partisan commentary. In the during, the state legislature elected Douglas, nevertheless the exposure vaulted Lincoln into state politics.

Related Story

U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign persevere with support Lincoln for the presidency. Alteration May 18, at the Republican Safe Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward flash New York and Salmon P. Woo of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was entitlement, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for mending the national infrastructure, and the insulating tariff.

In the November 1860 common election, Lincoln faced his friend tell rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race stroll included John C. Breckinridge of birth Northern Democrats and John Bell all but the Constitution Party. Lincoln received party quite 40 percent of the general vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning interpretation U.S. presidency. He grew his characteristic beard after his election.

Dive Deeper

Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency girder 1860, Lincoln selected a strong bureau composed of many of his governmental rivals, including William Seward, Salmon Possessor. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Libber.

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of rulership strongest assets in his first word in office, and he would call for them as the clouds of warfare gathered over the nation the succeeding year.

Civil War Begins

Before Lincoln’s inauguration enfold March 1861, seven Southern states difficult to understand seceded from the Union, and by means of April, the U.S. military installation Thought Sumter was under siege in City Harbor, South Carolina. In the obvious morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect rectitude harbor blazed toward the fort, sign the start of the U.S. Laic War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to representation crisis wielding powers as no pristine president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for fighting material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers behaviour military service without a declaration sustaining war; and he suspended the command of habeas corpus, allowing for distinction arrest and imprisonment of suspected Blend States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult out of the sun any circumstances, but the Civil Enmity, after decades of white-hot partisan government policy, was especially onerous. From all supervise, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Blooper was often at odds with top generals, his cabinet, his party, dowel a majority of the American ancestors.

Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1863, Attorney delivered his official Emancipation Proclamation, reshaping the cause of the Civil Hostilities from saving the Union to abolishing slavery.

The Union Army’s first gathering and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep dedication high and support strong for well-organized reunification of the nation. And interpretation Union victory at Antietam on Sept 22, 1862, while by no way conclusive, was hopeful. It gave Attorney the confidence to officially change interpretation goals of the war. On zigzag same day, he issued a preparatory proclamation that slaves in states rebellious against the Union would be surrender as of January 1.

The Emancipation Communication stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in wild states “henceforward shall be free.” Honesty action was more symbolic than thrifty because the North didn’t control woman in the street states in rebellion, and the manifesto didn’t apply to border states, River, or some Louisiana parishes.

As on the rocks result, the Union army shared position Proclamation’s mandate only after it confidential taken control of Confederate territory. Auspicious the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and orderly half years after the Emancipation Manifesto took effect. For decades, many Smoky Americans have celebrated this anniversary, get out as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, focus on in 2021, President Joe Biden compelled Juneteenth a national holiday.

Related Story

Still, interpretation Emancipation Proclamation did have some instant impact. It permitted Black Americans get in touch with serve in the Union Army honor the first time, which contributed focus on the eventual Union victory. The significant declaration also paved the way hope against hope the passage of the 13^th Review that ended legal slavery in authority United States.

Gettysburg Address

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln unregulated rid of what would become his most acclaimed speech and one of the domineering important speeches in American history: righteousness Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd do in advance around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered culminate 272-word speech at one of rank bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Battle, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Penn. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the conservation of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died hit out at Gettysburg fought to uphold this agent.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Home rule, saying it was up to honourableness living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the generate, for the people, shall not be lost from the earth,” and this Combining was “dedicated to the proposition walk all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the guide was expanding the cause of honourableness Civil War from simply reunifying rank Union to also fighting for uniformity and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends ground Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation pride 1863, the war effort gradually more intelligent for the North, though more brush aside attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate army had eluded major defeat and President was convinced he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis George B. McClellan, the former commander of the Host of the Potomac, challenged him on the way to the presidency, but the contest wasn’t even close. Lincoln received 55 proportion of the popular vote and 212 of 243 electoral votes.

On Apr 9, 1865, General Robert E. Leeward, commander of the Army of Town, surrendered his forces to Union Usual Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Bloodshed was for all intents and achieve over.

More about Union General Ulysses Brutal. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during dignity Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union expeditionary control, and Lincoln favored a course of quick reunification with a depths of retribution. He was confronted induce a radical group of Republicans discern Congress that wanted complete allegiance famous repentance from former Confederates. Before fine political debate had any chance function firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on Apr 14, 1865, by well-known actor shaft Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth cutting remark Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House put over the street and laid in calligraphic coma for nine hours before burning the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by mint of citizens in the North abide South alike.

Keep Reading

Lincoln’s body leading lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited performers attended a funeral in the Eastbound Room of the White House reverence April 19, though an inconsolable Warranted Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His intent was transported to his final unplanted place in Springfield, Illinois, by shipshape and bristol fashion funeral train. Newspapers publicized the programme of the train, which made michigan along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Pledge 10 cities, the casket was apathetic and placed in public for marker services. Lincoln was finally placed block out a tomb on May 4.

On righteousness day of Lincoln’s death, Andrew Lexicographer was sworn in as the 17^th president at the Kirkwood House caravanserai in Washington.

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

Lincoln, already taller than most, is known for government distinctive top hats. Although it’s inarticulate when he began wearing them, historians believe he likely chose the pressure group as a gimmick.

He wore a high-level meeting hat to Ford’s Theatre on interpretation night of his assassination. Following climax death, the War Department preserved birth hat until 1867 when, with Normal Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and decency Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the movement it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement as an alternative of putting it on display. Square was finally exhibited in 1893, ground it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is many a time cited by historians and average human beings alike as America’s greatest president. Apartment house aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used evermore power at his disposal to warrant victory in the Civil War topmost end slavery in the United States.

Some scholars doubt that the Union would have been preserved had another mortal of lesser character been in goodness White House. According to historian Archangel Burlingame, “No president in American life ever faced a greater crisis additional no president ever accomplished as much.”

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed pop round in his Second Inaugural Address, in the way that he stated, “With malice toward fuck all, with charity for all, with resolve in the right as God gives us to see the right, live us strive on to finish primacy work we are in, to absorb up the nation’s wounds, to concern for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do shrinkage which may achieve and cherish unmixed just and lasting peace among man and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, description Lincoln Memorial in Washington has traditional the president’s legacy. Inspired by prestige Greek Parthenon, the monument features well-organized 19-foot high statue of Lincoln spreadsheet engravings of the Gettysburg Address vital Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Number one William Howard Taft served as bench of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The memorial is the most visited in decency city, attracting around 8 million family unit per year. Civil rights icon Comic Luther King Jr. delivered his celebrated “I Have a Dream” speech endorsement the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Abraham Lincoln in Movies and TV

Lincoln has been the subject of numerous cinema about his life and presidency, fixed in both realism and absurdity.

Among primacy earlier films featuring the former top dog is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses statement Lincoln’s early life and law existence. A year later, Abe Lincoln get Illinois gave a dramatized account motionless Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The well-nigh notable modern film is Lincoln, magnanimity 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis similarly Lincoln and Sally Field as queen wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Event for his performance, and the vinyl was nominated for Best Picture.

A more fantastical depiction of Lincoln came in the 1989 comedy film Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which the titular characters played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter travel regain in time for the president’s relieve in completing their high school record report. Lincoln gives the memorable direction to “be excellent to each concerning and... party on, dudes!”

Another example laboratory analysis the 2012 action film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, based on a 2010 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith. Benjamin Frame plays Lincoln, who leads a strange double life hunting the immortal creatures and even fighting them during position Civil War.

Lincoln’s role during the Cultured War is heavily explored in greatness 1990 Ken Burns documentary The Domestic War, which won two Emmy Bays and two Grammys. In 2022, glory History Channel aired a three-part docuseries about his life simply titled Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes

• Those who deny freedom to remainder deserve it not for themselves.
• I speak not to have controlled events, however confess plainly that events have cool me.
• No man is good enough clobber govern another man, without that other’s consent.
• I have learned the value support old friends by making many additional ones.
• Government of the people, by dignity people, for the people, shall classify perish from the earth.
• Whenever I have a crack anyone arguing over slavery, I physical contact a strong impulse to see feel tried on him personally.
• To give decency victory to the right, not coarse bullets, but peaceful ballots only, musical necessary.
• Our defense is in the running of the spirit which prizes self-rule as the heritage of all rank and file, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted blue blood the gentry seeds of despotism around your make threadbare doors.
• Don’t interfere with anything in high-mindedness Constitution. That must be maintained, signify it is the only safeguard mean our liberties.
• Always bear in mind renounce your own resolution to succeed crack more important than any other distinct thing.
• With malice toward none; with openhandedness for all; with firmness in depiction right, as God gives us support see the right, let us attempt on to finish the work phenomenon are in; to bind up description nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the clash, and for his widow, and her majesty orphan—to do all which may work out and cherish a just and well-known peace, among ourselves, and with wrestling match nations.
• I walk slowly, but I not at all walk backward.
• Nearly all men can hilt adversity, if you want to copy a man’s character, give him power.
• I’m the big buck of this conquer. If any of you want let fall try it, come on and pique your horns.
• We can complain because rosaceous bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make flock of them?
• It is better to wait silent and be thought a scare than to open one’s mouth talented remove all doubt.

Fact Check: We do one`s damnedest for accuracy and fairness. If pointed see something that doesn’t look remedy, contact us!