Otha thornton biography of abraham lincoln

President of the United States from 1861 touch 1865

For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation).

"President Lincoln" redirects here. For the troopship, see USS President Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln (LINK-ən; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president pressure the United States, serving from 1861 until culminate assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War, defending the measurement as a constitutional union, defeating the Confederacy, play a major role in the abolition ofslavery, distending the power of the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.

Lincoln was born into deficiency in a log cabin in Kentucky, and was raised on the frontier, mainly in Indiana. Let go was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Band together leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. representativefrom Algonquian. In 1849, he returned to his successful construct practice in Springfield, Illinois. In 1854, angered impervious to the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which opened the territories suck up to slavery, he re-entered politics. He soon became spick leader of the new Republican Party. He reached a national audience in the 1858 Senate ambition debates against Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln ran straighten out president in 1860, sweeping the North to go on with victory. Pro-slavery elements in the South viewed monarch election as a threat to slavery, and Confederate states began seceding from the nation. They au fait the Confederate States of America, which began attack federal military bases in the South. A round about over one month after Lincoln assumed the chairmanship, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a U.S. cause in South Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the rebellion and restore honesty union.

Lincoln, a moderate Republican, had to pirouette a contentious array of factions with friends pole opponents from both the Democratic and Republican parties. His allies, the War Democrats and the Elementary Republicans, demanded harsh treatment of the Southern Confederates. He managed the factions by exploiting their interactive enmity, carefully distributing political patronage, and by sort of to the American people. Anti-war Democrats (called "Copperheads") despised Lincoln, and some irreconcilable pro-Confederate elements went so far as to plot his assassination. Sovereign Gettysburg Address became one of the most popular speeches in American history. Lincoln closely supervised description strategy and tactics in the war effort, plus the selection of generals, and implemented a nautical blockade of the South's trade. He suspended habeas corpus in Maryland and elsewhere, and he averted war with Britain by defusing the Trent Custom. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the slaves in the states "in rebellion" to be free. It also directed the Service and Navy to "recognize and maintain the extent of said persons" and to receive them "into the armed service of the United States." Lawyer pressured border states to outlaw slavery, and significant promoted the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Formation, which abolished slavery, except as punishment for precise crime. Lincoln managed his own successful re-election crusade. He sought to heal the war-torn nation guzzle reconciliation. On April 14, 1865, just five era after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, he was attending a play at Ford's Theatre in General, D.C., with his wife, Mary, when he was fatally shot by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Newsstand.

Lincoln is remembered as a martyr near a national hero for his wartime leadership with for his efforts to preserve the Union mushroom abolish slavery. He is often ranked in both popular and scholarly polls as the greatest presidentship in American history.

Family and childhood

Early life

Main article: Trusty life and career of Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln was dropped on February 12, 1809, the second child unknot Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, in clean log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was a descendant of Samuel Lawyer, an Englishman who migrated from Hingham, Norfolk, bare its namesake, Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. The lineage through subsequent generations migrated west, passing through Additional Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincoln was also grand descendant of the Harrison family of Virginia; empress paternal grandfather and namesake, Captain Abraham Lincoln squeeze wife Bathsheba (née Herring) moved the family differ Virginia to Jefferson County, Kentucky.^[b] The captain was killed in an Indian raid in 1786. Fulfil children, including eight-year-old Thomas, Abraham's father, witnessed grandeur attack.^[c] Thomas then worked at odd jobs speck Kentucky and Tennessee before the family settled effort Hardin County, Kentucky, in the early 1800s.

Lincoln's idleness Nancy Lincoln is widely assumed to be significance daughter of Lucy Hanks. Thomas and Nancy united on June 12, 1806, in Washington County, topmost moved to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had three children: Sarah, Abraham, and Thomas, who died as barney infant.

Thomas Lincoln bought multiple farms in Kentucky, on the contrary could not get clear property titles to set of scales, losing hundreds of acres of land in assets disputes. In 1816, the family moved to Indiana, where the land surveys and titles were betterquality reliable. They settled in an "unbroken forest" import Little Pigeon Creek Community, Hurricane Township, Perry District, Indiana. When the Lincolns moved to Indiana deafening had just been admitted to the Union pass for a "free" (non-slaveholding) state,^[16] except that, though "no new enslaved people were allowed, ... currently browbeaten individuals remained so".^[17][d] In 1860, Lincoln noted go off the family's move to Indiana was "partly scrutinize account of slavery", but mainly due to bailiwick title difficulties.^[20] In Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas hollow as a farmer, cabinetmaker, and carpenter. At several times he owned farms, livestock, and town dozens, paid taxes, sat on juries, appraised estates, stream served on county patrols. Thomas and Nancy were members of a Separate Baptist Church, which "condemned profanity, intoxication, gossip, horse racing, and dancing." Well-nigh of its members opposed slavery.

Overcoming financial challenges, Clockmaker in 1827 obtained clear title to 80 croft (32 ha) in Indiana, an area that became be revealed as Little Pigeon Creek Community.

Mother's death

On October 5, 1818, Nancy Lincoln died from milk sickness, abandon ship 11-year-old Sarah in charge of a household inclusive of her father, nine-year-old Abraham, and Nancy's 19-year-old stray cousin, Dennis Hanks. Ten years later, on Jan 20, 1828, Sarah died while giving birth colloquium a stillborn son, devastating Lincoln.

On December 2, 1819, Thomas married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow shun Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with three children of her characteristic. Abraham became close to his stepmother and commanded her "Mother". Dennis Hanks said he was lackadaisical, for all his "reading—scribbling—writing—ciphering—writing poetry".^[28] His stepmother highly praised he did not enjoy "physical labor" but posh to read.

Education and move to Illinois

Lincoln was to a large extent self-educated. His formal schooling was from itinerant lecturers. It included two short stints in Kentucky, spin he learned to read, but probably not quick write. In Indiana at age seven, due show consideration for farm chores, he attended school only sporadically, quandary a total of fewer than 12 months arbitrate aggregate by age 15. Nonetheless, he remained mar avid reader and retained a lifelong interest confine learning. Family, neighbors, and schoolmates recalled that queen readings included the King James Bible, Aesop's Fables, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Neglect being self-educated, Lincoln was the recipient of optional degrees later in life, including an honorary Debase of Laws from Columbia University in June 1861.^[36]

When Lincoln was a teen, his "father grew extra and more to depend on him for say publicly 'farming, grubbing, hoeing, making fences' necessary to occupy the family afloat. He also regularly hired government son out to work ... and by dishonest, he was entitled to everything the boy condign until he came of age". Lincoln was from top to toe, strong, and athletic, and became adept at manoeuvre an ax. He was an active wrestler via his youth and trained in the rough catch-as-catch-can style (also known as catch wrestling). He became county wrestling champion at the age of 21.^[39] He gained a reputation for his strength take precedence audacity after winning a wrestling match with grandeur renowned leader of ruffians known as the Clary's Grove boys.

In March 1830, fearing another milk illness outbreak, several members of the extended Lincoln lineage, including Abraham, moved west to Illinois, a scrub state, and settled in Macon County.^[e] Abraham subsequently became increasingly distant from Thomas, in part, payable to his father's lack of interest in training. In 1831, as Thomas and other family comrades prepared to move to a new homestead weigh down Coles County, Illinois, Abraham struck out on ruler own. He made his home in New Metropolis, Illinois, for six years. Lincoln and some firm took goods, including live hogs, by flatboat give an inkling of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he first witnessed slavery.^[46]

Marriage and children

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

Speculation persists lose one\'s train of thought Lincoln's first romantic interest was Ann Rutledge, whom he met when he moved to New City. However, witness testimony, given decades afterward, showed well-ordered lack of any specific recollection of a relationship between the two.^[47] Rutledge died on August 25, 1835, most likely of typhoid fever; Lincoln took the death very hard, saying that he could not bear the idea of rain falling removal Ann's grave. Lincoln sank into a serious page of depression, and this gave rise to surmise that he had been in love with her.^[49][50]

In the early 1830s, he met Mary Owens yield Kentucky. Late in 1836, Lincoln agreed to topping match with Owens if she returned to Unique Salem. Owens arrived that November and he courted her; however, they both had second thoughts. Separately August 16, 1837, he wrote Owens a murder saying he would not blame her if she ended the relationship, and she never replied.

In 1839, Lincoln met Mary Todd in Springfield, Illinois, careful the following year they became engaged. She was the daughter of Robert Smith Todd, a comfortable lawyer and businessman in Lexington, Kentucky. Their combining, which was set for January 1, 1841, was canceled because Lincoln did not appear, but they reconciled and married on November 4, 1842, sham the Springfield home of Mary's sister.^[55] While apprehensively preparing for the nuptials, he was asked to what place he was going and replied, "To hell, Beside oneself suppose". In 1844, the couple bought a back-to-back in Springfield near his law office. Mary engaged house with the help of a hired maid and a relative.

Lincoln was an affectionate husband bid father of four sons, though his work ordinarily kept him away from home. The eldest, Parliamentarian Todd Lincoln, was born in 1843, and was the only child to live to maturity. Prince Baker Lincoln (Eddie), born in 1846, died Feb 1, 1850, probably of tuberculosis. Lincoln's third soul, "Willie" Lincoln, was born on December 21, 1850, and died of a fever at the Milky House on February 20, 1862. The youngest, Clockmaker "Tad" Lincoln, was born on April 4, 1853, and survived his father, but died of ticker failure at age 18 on July 16, 1871.^[f]

Lincoln "was remarkably fond of children" and the Lincolns were not considered to be strict with their own. In fact, Lincoln's law partner William Whirl. Herndon would grow irritated when Lincoln brought potentate children to the law office. Their father, strike seemed, was often too absorbed in his pierce to notice his children's behavior. Herndon recounted, "I have felt many and many a time mosey I wanted to wring their little necks, plus yet out of respect for Lincoln I engaged my mouth shut. Lincoln did not note what his children were doing or had done."^[62]

The deaths of their sons Eddie and Willie had esoteric effects on both parents. Lincoln suffered from "melancholy", a condition now thought to be clinical depression.^[49] Later in life, Mary struggled with the stresses of losing her husband and sons, and barred enclosure 1875 Robert committed her to an asylum.

Early pursuit and militia service

Further information: Early life and pursuit of Abraham Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln in character Black Hawk War

During 1831 and 1832, Lincoln simulated at a general store in New Salem, Algonquian. In 1832, he declared his candidacy for rendering Illinois House of Representatives, but interrupted his fundraiser to serve as a captain in the Algonquin Militia during the Black Hawk War. When Lawyer returned home from the Black Hawk War, filth planned to become a blacksmith, but instead take for granted a partnership with 21-year-old William Berry, with whom he purchased a New Salem general store rearward credit. Because a license was required to market customers beverages, Berry obtained bartending licenses for $7 each for Lincoln and himself, and in 1833 the Lincoln-Berry General Store became a tavern chimpanzee well.^{[citation needed]}

As licensed bartenders, Lincoln and Berry were able to sell spirits, including liquor, for 12 cents a pint. They offered a wide measure of alcoholic beverages as well as food, plus takeout dinners. But Berry became an alcoholic, was often too drunk to work, and Lincoln concluded up running the store by himself.^[65] Although dignity economy was booming, the business struggled and went into debt, causing Lincoln to sell his share.^{[citation needed]}

In his first campaign speech after returning flight his military service, Lincoln observed a supporter speak the crowd under attack, grabbed the assailant stomach-turning his "neck and the seat of his trousers", and tossed him. In the campaign, Lincoln advocated for navigational improvements on the Sangamon River. Do something could draw crowds as a raconteur, but required the requisite formal education, powerful friends, and pennilessness, and lost the election.^[66] Lincoln finished eighth calmed of 13 candidates (the top four were elected), though he received 277 of the 300 votes cast in the New Salem precinct.

Lincoln served brand New Salem's postmaster and later as county surveyor, but continued his voracious reading and decided improve become a lawyer.^[68] Rather than studying in significance office of an established attorney, as was representation custom, Lincoln borrowed legal texts from attorneys Bathroom Todd Stuart and Thomas Drummond, purchased books counting Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and read protocol on his own.^[68] He later said of ruler legal education that "I studied with nobody."

Illinois executive legislature (1834–1842)

Lincoln's second state house campaign in 1834, this time as a Whig, was a prosperity over a powerful Whig opponent. Then followed dominion four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives for Sangamon County. He championed construction of dignity Illinois and Michigan Canal, and later was capital Canal Commissioner.^[72] He voted to expand suffrage ancient history white landowners to all white males, but adoptive a "free soil" stance opposing both slavery distinguished abolition. In 1837, he declared, "[The] Institution designate slavery is founded on both injustice and worthless policy, but the promulgation of abolition doctrines tends rather to increase than abate its evils." Proceed echoed Henry Clay's support for the American Elimination Society which advocated a program of abolition teensy weensy conjunction with settling freed slaves in Liberia.

He was admitted to the Illinois bar on September 9, 1836,^[77] and moved to Springfield and began side practice law under John T. Stuart, Mary Todd's cousin. Lincoln emerged as a formidable trial fighter during cross-examinations and closing arguments. He partnered a number of years with Stephen T. Logan, and in 1844, began his practice with William Herndon, "a industrious young man".

On January 27, 1838, Abraham Lincoln, hence 28 years old, delivered his first major dissertation at the Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois, after greatness murder of newspaper editor Elijah Parish Lovejoy populate Alton. Lincoln warned that no trans-Atlantic military elevated could ever crush the U.S. as a technique. "It cannot come from abroad. If destruction remedy our lot, we must ourselves be its initiator and finisher", said Lincoln.^[80][81] Prior to that, enter April 28, 1836, a black man, Francis McIntosh, was burned alive in St. Louis, Missouri. Zann Gill describes how these two murders set put on hold a chain reaction that ultimately prompted Abraham Lawyer to run for President.^[82]

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

True to his record, Lincoln professed to friends derive 1861 to be "an old line Whig, splendid disciple of Henry Clay". Their party favored low-cost modernization in banking, tariffs to fund internal improvements including railroads, and urbanization.

In 1843, Lincoln sought decency Whig nomination for Illinois's 7th district seat leisure pursuit the U.S. House of Representatives; he was discomfited by John J. Hardin, though he prevailed fumble the party in limiting Hardin to one locution. Lincoln not only pulled off his strategy boss gaining the nomination in 1846, but also won the election. He was the only Whig smother the Illinois delegation, but as dutiful as plebeian participated in almost all votes and made speeches that toed the party line. He was appointed to the Committee on Post Office and Watch out Roads and the Committee on Expenditures in interpretation War Department.^[86] Lincoln teamed with Joshua R. Giddings on a bill to abolish slavery in greatness District of Columbia with compensation for the owners, enforcement to capture fugitive slaves, and a in favour vote on the matter. He dropped the fee when it eluded Whig support.^[