Abraham Lincoln through the years

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room, wooden cabin at Sinking Spring Farm in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Abraham was the second child of his parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy (Hanks) Lincoln. He was a self-educated American lawyer and politician and is most known for being the 16th President of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln’s life was one that historians have chronicled for years, and to this day, new facts are still surfacing about one of the bravest presidents who ever lived. Here are a few of the most fascinating parts of his life.

1816- Abraham Lincoln lost his mother, Nancy Lincoln to ‘milk sicknesses.

1827- Although Lincoln wasn’t fond of the hard labour associated with frontier life, he earned his first dollar in 1827. He was responsible for ferrying passengers on steamboats on the Ohio River.

1830- The Lincoln family moved 200 miles to Sangamon River Illinois, a non-slave holding state. Lincoln made his first Political speech in 1830. His speech was geared towards the improvement of navigation on the Sangamon River.

1832-In March of 1832, at the age of 23, Lincoln commenced his political career with his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly. He advocated for changes in Usury Laws and universal education. During the Black Hawk War, he served as a captain in the Illinois Militia. On August 6th Lincoln lost the election.

1834- Lincoln ran for public office again and his second campaign was quite successful. On August 4th Lincoln who was then 24, was elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Lincoln ran as a member of the Whig Party.

1836- On September 9th 1836, Lincoln was admitted to the bar. He later moved to Springfield, Illinois and began to practice law under John T. Stuart. Lincoln began to advocate for the State Capitol to be relocated to Springfield.

1840- In June 1840, Lincoln argued his first case before the Illinois Supreme Court. Later that year, on August 3rd, Abraham Lincoln was re-elected to the General Assembly of Illinois for the fourth time.

1842- Lincoln and Mary Todd got married on November 4th. The new couple resided at the Globe Tavern in Springfield.

1843- On August 1st 1843, the newlyweds welcomed their first child Robert Todd Lincoln, named in honor of Mary’s late father.

1844- Lincoln setup his own Law Firm making William Herndon a partner.

1846- On May1st, Lincoln was nominated to be the Whig candidate for U.S Congress. His campaign was successful and he was elected on August 3rd.

1847- Lincoln took his seat in the House of Representatives. On December 22nd Lincoln presented resolutions, which challenged and questioned President James K. Polk about the necessity of the Mexican-American war policies. During his term in the House of Representatives, he was also remembered for opposing slavery.

1849-Lincoln made the decision, to focus on law and leave politics behind. He was granted U.S Patent No. 6,469 for buoying vessels over shoals. Lincoln is the only president ever granted a patent.

1851- On January 17th almost a year after Lincoln lost his son, his father Thomas Lincoln passed away.

1858- Lincoln decided to give politics another try. He received the Republican nomination for Senator, on June 16th, opposing Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln and Douglas took part in seven debates, which today is known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Lincoln was unsuccessful.

1860-On May18th, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for President at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. On November 6th, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States. He made history as the first Republican President.

1861- On February 11th Lincoln delivered his Inaugural speech on March 4th.

Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour, on April 12th about 4am. The President immediately asked for 75,000 volunteers to serve three months in the union army. The army suffered a devastating defeat at the Civil War.

1862- On April 16th President Lincoln signed an act to abolish all practices of slavery in the District of Columbia.

1863- President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates on January 1st, 1863.

1864- June 8th 1864, President Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as President on November 8th.

On April 11th President Lincoln made his last public speech, which mainly focused on the problems of reconstruction.

On April 14th, President Lincoln and his wife Mary attended the Ford’s Theatre to see the play, ‘Our American Cousin’. During the third scene of the play, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head by Wilkes Booth. The 56 year old president died the following day, at 7.22 am.

On April 19th, funeral processions began. President Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest on May 4th 1865, in Oak Ridge Cemetery, outside Springfield Illinois.