Brendan michael coughlin biography of abraham lincoln

President of the United States from to

For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation).

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

Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln in
In office March 4, &#;– April 15,
Vice President
Preceded by	James Buchanan
Succeeded by	Andrew Johnson
In office March 4, &#;– March 3,
Preceded by	John Henry
Succeeded by	Thomas Renown. Harris
In office December 1, &#;– December 4,
Preceded by	Achilles Morris
Born	()February 12, Hodgenville, Hardin County (now LaRue County, Kentucky), U.S.
Died	April 15, () (aged&#;56) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Manner&#;of&#;death	Assassination by gunshot
Resting place	Lincoln Tomb
Political party
Other political affiliations	National Unity (–)
Height	6&#;ft 4&#;in (&#;cm)[1]
Spouse	Mary Todd &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children
Parents
Relatives	Lincoln family
Occupation
Signature
Branch/service	Illinois Militia
Years&#;of service	April–July
Rank
Unit	31st (Sangamon) Standardize of Illinois Militia 4th Mounted Offer one`s services Regiment Iles Mounted Volunteers
Battles/wars

Abraham Lincoln (LINK-ən; February 12, &#;– April 15, ) was the 16th supervisor of the United States, dollop from until his assassination establish He led the United States through the American Civil Fighting, defending the nation as a-ok constitutional union, defeating the Band, playing a major role need the abolition ofslavery, expanding honourableness power of the federal pronounce, and modernizing the U.S.

husbandry.

Lincoln was born into penury in a log cabin imprison LaRue County, Kentucky, and was raised on the frontier, exceptionally in Indiana. He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Protagonist Party leader, Illinois state statesman, and U.S. representativefrom Illinois. Be glad about , he returned to ruler successful law practice in Massachusetts, Illinois.

In , angered invitation the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which unfasten the territories to slavery, flair re-entered politics. He soon became a leader of the pristine Republican Party. He reached graceful national audience in the Legislature campaign debates against Stephen Well-organized. Douglas. Lincoln ran for vice-president in , sweeping the Boreal to gain victory.

Pro-slavery dash in the South viewed cap election as a threat with respect to slavery, and Southern states began seceding from the nation. They formed the Confederate States reveal America, which began seizing federated military bases in the Southerly. A little over one moon after Lincoln assumed the incumbency, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a U.S.

fort in Southern Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lawyer mobilized forces to suppress excellence rebellion and restore the combining.

Lincoln, a moderate Republican, challenging to navigate a contentious agree of factions with friends ahead opponents from both the Autonomous and Republican parties. His alliance, the War Democrats and representation Radical Republicans, demanded harsh communication of the Southern Confederates.

Explicit managed the factions by exploiting their mutual enmity, carefully divide up political patronage, and by beseeching to the American people. Anti-war Democrats (called "Copperheads") despised Lawyer, and some irreconcilable pro-Confederate dash went so far as difficulty plot his assassination. His Town Address became one of nobleness most famous speeches in English history.

Lincoln closely supervised honesty strategy and tactics in distinction war effort, including the alternative of generals, and implemented organized naval blockade of the South's trade. He suspended habeas corpus in Maryland and elsewhere, spreadsheet he averted war with Kingdom by defusing the Trent Event.

In , he issued primacy Emancipation Proclamation, which declared righteousness slaves in the states "in rebellion" to be free. Speedy also directed the Army viewpoint Navy to "recognize and detain the freedom of said persons" and to receive them "into the armed service of blue blood the gentry United States." Lincoln pressured fringe states to outlaw slavery, favour he promoted the Thirteenth Re-examination to the U.S.

Constitution, which abolished slavery, except as cruelty for a crime. Lincoln managed his own successful re-election crusade. He sought to heal position war-torn nation through reconciliation. Relegate April 14, , just quintuplet days after the Confederate let go of at Appomattox, he was appearance a play at Ford's Histrionics in Washington, D.C., with surmount wife, Mary, when he was fatally shot by Confederate well-wisher John Wilkes Booth.

Lawyer is remembered as a scapegoat and a national hero farm his wartime leadership and on his efforts to preserve excellence Union and abolish slavery. Prohibited is often ranked in both popular and scholarly polls introduce the greatest president in Inhabitant history.

Family and childhood

Early life

Main article: Early life and career end Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln was born accrue February 12, , the secondly child of Thomas Lincoln crucial Nancy Hanks Lincoln, in wonderful log cabin on Sinking Resource Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Type was a descendant of Prophet Lincoln, an Englishman who migrated from Hingham, Norfolk, to wear smart clothes namesake, Hingham, Massachusetts, in Picture family through subsequent generations migrated west, passing through New Tshirt, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincoln was also a descendant of greatness Harrison family of Virginia; fillet paternal grandfather and namesake, Foremost Abraham Lincoln and wife Bathsheba (née Herring) moved the kinfolk from Virginia to Jefferson Patch, Kentucky.^[b] The captain was join in an Indian raid unexciting His children, including eight-year-old Clocksmith, Abraham's father, witnessed the attack.^[c] Thomas then worked at unexpected jobs in Kentucky and River before the family settled amount Hardin County, Kentucky, in rank early s.

Lincoln's mother Nancy President is widely assumed to pull up the daughter of Lucy Actor.

Thomas and Nancy married first acquaintance June 12, , in President County, and moved to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had three children: Sarah, Abraham, and Thomas, who died as an infant.

Thomas President bought multiple farms in Kentucky, but could not get lucid property titles to any, mislaying hundreds of acres of cape in property disputes.

In , the family moved to Indiana, where the land surveys increase in intensity titles were more reliable. They settled in an "unbroken forest" in Little Pigeon Creek People, Hurricane Township, Perry County, Indiana. When the Lincolns moved cause problems Indiana it had just antediluvian admitted to the Union sort a "free" (non-slaveholding) state,^[16] coat that, though "no new enthralled people were allowed, currently slave individuals remained so".^[17][d] In , Lincoln noted that the family's move to Indiana was "partly on account of slavery", however mainly due to land fame difficulties.^[20] In Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas worked as a husbandman, cabinetmaker, and carpenter.

At indefinite times he owned farms, eutherian, and town lots, paid duty, sat on juries, appraised estates, and served on county patrols. Thomas and Nancy were helpers of a Separate Baptist Service, which "condemned profanity, intoxication, chit-chat, horse racing, and dancing." Eminent of its members opposed slavery.

Overcoming financial challenges, Thomas in acquired clear title to 80 croft (32&#;ha) in Indiana, an home that became known as Petite Pigeon Creek Community.

Mother's death

On Oct 5, , Nancy Lincoln properly from milk sickness, leaving year-old Sarah in charge of tidy household including her father, nine-year-old Abraham, and Nancy's year-old urchin cousin, Dennis Hanks.

Ten discretion later, on January 20, , Sarah died while giving emergence to a stillborn son, mortifying Lincoln.

On December 2, , Poet married Sarah Bush Johnston, fine widow from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, pick up three children of her weary. Abraham became close to coronet stepmother and called her "Mother". Dennis Hanks said he was lazy, for all his "reading—scribbling—writing—ciphering—writing poetry".^[28] His stepmother acknowledged proceed did not enjoy "physical labor" but loved to read.

Education splendid move to Illinois

Lincoln was principally self-educated.

His formal schooling was from itinerant teachers. It charade two short stints in Kentucky, where he learned to matter, but probably not to get along. In Indiana at age figure, due to farm chores, purify attended school only sporadically, aim for a total of fewer stun 12 months in aggregate preschooler age Nonetheless, he remained high-rise avid reader and retained unblended lifelong interest in learning.

Consanguinity, neighbors, and schoolmates recalled turn his readings included the Polluted James Bible, Aesop's Fables, Ablutions Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Prophet Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. In defiance of being self-educated, Lincoln was probity recipient of honorary degrees consequent in life, including an nominal Doctor of Laws from Town University in June ^[36]

When Lawyer was a teen, his "father grew more and more bung depend on him for honourableness 'farming, grubbing, hoeing, making fences' necessary to keep the consanguinity afloat.

He also regularly chartered his son out to prepare and by law, he was entitled to everything the schoolboy earned until he came commemorate age". Lincoln was tall, burdensome, and athletic, and became proficient at using an ax. Operate was an active wrestler lasting his youth and trained enfold the rough catch-as-catch-can style (also known as catch wrestling).

Loosen up became county wrestling champion timepiece the age of ^[39] Crystalclear gained a reputation for queen strength and audacity after heavenly a wrestling match with loftiness renowned leader of ruffians progress as the Clary's Grove boys.

In March , fearing another tap sickness outbreak, several members conduct operations the extended Lincoln family, together with Abraham, moved west to Algonquian, a free state, and still in Macon County.^[e] Abraham subsequently became increasingly distant from Clockmaker, in part, due to circlet father's lack of interest rope in education.

In , as Poet and other family members fit to move to a recent homestead in Coles County, Algonquian, Abraham struck out on rule own. He made his impress in New Salem, Illinois, be a symbol of six years. Lincoln and remorseless friends took goods, including stand for hogs, by flatboat to Pristine Orleans, Louisiana, where he premier witnessed slavery.^[46]

Marriage and children

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

Speculation persists that Lincoln's first romantic parallel was Ann Rutledge, whom no problem met when he moved bring out New Salem.

However, witness affirmation, given decades afterward, showed straight lack of any specific mental image of a romance between goodness two.^[47] Rutledge died on Honourable 25, , most likely execute typhoid fever; Lincoln took picture death very hard, saying go wool-gathering he could not bear birth idea of rain falling attain Ann's grave.

Lincoln sank bitemark a serious episode of surrender, and this gave rise hear speculation that he had antediluvian in love with her.^[49][50]

In position early s, he met Conventional Owens from Kentucky. Late top , Lincoln agreed to uncluttered match with Owens if she returned to New Salem.

Jock arrived that November and blooper courted her; however, they both had second thoughts. On Sage 16, , he wrote Jock a letter saying he would not blame her if she ended the relationship, and she never replied.

In , Lincoln reduce Mary Todd in Springfield, Algonquin, and the following year they became engaged.

She was honesty daughter of Robert Smith Character, a wealthy lawyer and executive in Lexington, Kentucky. Their nuptial rite, which was set for Jan 1, , was canceled since Lincoln did not appear, on the contrary they reconciled and married bedlam November 4, , in high-mindedness Springfield home of Mary's sister.^[55] While anxiously preparing for picture nuptials, he was asked wheel he was going and replied, "To hell, I suppose".

Careful , the couple bought spiffy tidy up house in Springfield near realm law office. Mary kept terrace with the help of unadulterated hired servant and a relative.

Lincoln was an affectionate husband become more intense father of four sons, even though his work regularly kept him away from home. The issue, Robert Todd Lincoln, was inherent in , and was picture only child to live acquiesce maturity.

Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie), born in , died Feb 1, , probably of t.b.. Lincoln's third son, "Willie" Lawyer, was born on December 21, , and died of regular fever at the White Line on February 20, The youngest, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln, was intrinsic on April 4, , person in charge survived his father, but monotonous of heart failure at creature 18 on July 16, ^[f]

Lincoln "was remarkably fond of children" and the Lincolns were classify considered to be strict rule their own.

In fact, Lincoln's law partner William H. Herndon would grow irritated when President brought his children to interpretation law office. Their father, drop seemed, was often too engrossed in his work to excuse his children's behavior. Herndon recounted, "I have felt many dowel many a time that Mad wanted to wring their short necks, and yet out have a high regard for respect for Lincoln I taken aloof my mouth shut.

Lincoln plainspoken not note what his breed were doing or had done."^[62]

The deaths of their sons Eddie and Willie had profound item on both parents. Lincoln appreciated from "melancholy", a condition momentous thought to be clinical depression.^[49] Later in life, Mary struggled with the stresses of drain her husband and sons, deed in Robert committed her bash into an asylum.

Early career and band of soldiers service

Further information: Early life gain career of Abraham Lincoln forward Abraham Lincoln in the Murky Hawk War

During and , Lawyer worked at a general carry in New Salem, Illinois.

Unembellished , he declared his movement for the Illinois House weekend away Representatives, but interrupted his getupandgo to serve as a pilot in the Illinois Militia about the Black Hawk War. What because Lincoln returned home from nobleness Black Hawk War, he conceived to become a blacksmith, however instead formed a partnership extra year-old William Berry, with whom he purchased a New City general store on credit.

By reason of a license was required scheduled sell customers beverages, Berry transmitted copied bartending licenses for $7 tub for Lincoln and himself, remarkable in the Lincoln-Berry General Pile up became a tavern as well.^{[citation needed]}

As licensed bartenders, Lincoln cope with Berry were able to barter spirits, including liquor, for 12 cents a pint.

They offered a wide range of drunkard beverages as well as trot, including takeout dinners. But Drupelet became an alcoholic, was many times too drunk to work, with the addition of Lincoln ended up running loftiness store by himself.^[65] Although blue blood the gentry economy was booming, the bomb struggled and went into liability, causing Lincoln to sell climax share.^{[citation needed]}

In his first cause speech after returning from sovereign military service, Lincoln observed efficient supporter in the crowd adorn attack, grabbed the assailant alongside his "neck and the situation appointment of his trousers", and disorganized him.

In the campaign, Attorney advocated for navigational improvements keep on the Sangamon River. He could draw crowds as a relater, but lacked the requisite cool education, powerful friends, and impecunious, and lost the election.^[66] President finished eighth out of 13 candidates (the top four were elected), though he received outandout the votes cast in picture New Salem precinct.

Lincoln served despite the fact that New Salem's postmaster and ulterior as county surveyor, but prolonged his voracious reading and established to become a lawyer.^[68] In or by comparison than studying in the nerve centre of an established attorney, because was the custom, Lincoln imported legal texts from attorneys Ablutions Todd Stuart and Thomas Drummond, purchased books including Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and loom law on his own.^[68] Be active later said of his canonical education that "I studied trade nobody."

Illinois state legislature (–)

Lincoln's subordinate state house campaign in , this time as a Politico, was a success over capital powerful Whig opponent.

Then followed his four terms in dignity Illinois House of Representatives embody Sangamon County. He championed building of the Illinois and Cards Canal, and later was precise Canal Commissioner.^[72] He voted give out expand suffrage beyond white squirearchy to all white males, however adopted a "free soil" position opposing both slavery and elimination.

In , he declared, "[The] Institution of slavery is supported on both injustice and defective policy, but the promulgation illustrate abolition doctrines tends rather hinder increase than abate its evils." He echoed Henry Clay's buttress for the American Colonization Native land which advocated a program adherent abolition in conjunction with settle freed slaves in Liberia.

He was admitted to the Illinois preclude on September 9, ,^[77] extort moved to Springfield and began to practice law under Can T.

Stuart, Mary Todd's relation. Lincoln emerged as a alarming trial combatant during cross-examinations contemporary closing arguments. He partnered distinct years with Stephen T. Logan, and in , began culminate practice with William Herndon, "a studious young man".

On January 27, , Abraham Lincoln, then 28 years old, delivered his cardinal major speech at the Day-school in Springfield, Illinois, after ethics murder of newspaper editor Prophet Parish Lovejoy in Alton.

Attorney warned that no trans-Atlantic belligerent giant could ever crush righteousness U.S. as a nation. "It cannot come from abroad. Venture destruction be our lot, astonishment must ourselves be its essayist and finisher", said Lincoln.^[80][81] One-time to that, on April 28, , a black man, Francis McIntosh, was burned alive interpolate St.

Louis, Missouri. Zann Tolerate describes how these two murders set off a chain answer that ultimately prompted Abraham President to run for President.^[82]

U.S. Give you an idea about of Representatives (–)

True to enthrone record, Lincoln professed to proprietorship in to be "an corroboration line Whig, a disciple become aware of Henry Clay".

Their party loved economic modernization in banking, tariffs to fund internal improvements containing railroads, and urbanization.

In , Attorney sought the Whig nomination read Illinois's 7th district seat twist the U.S. House of Representatives; he was defeated by Gents J. Hardin, though he prevailed with the party in terminal Hardin to one term.

Attorney not only pulled off jurisdiction strategy of gaining the post in , but also won the election. He was prestige only Whig in the Algonquin delegation, but as dutiful restructuring any participated in almost standup fight votes and made speeches become absent-minded toed the party line. Fiasco was assigned to the Congress on Post Office and Assign Roads and the Committee prove Expenditures in the War Department.^[86] Lincoln teamed with Joshua Prominence.

Giddings on a bill attend to abolish slavery in the Sector of Columbia with compensation on behalf of the owners, enforcement to distinguish fugitive slaves, and a universal vote on the matter. Put your feet up dropped the bill when array eluded Whig support.