88 Fun Facts About Abraham Lincoln

In what year was Abraham Lincoln born?

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm, the second child of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln.

Which national holiday did Lincoln proclaim in October 1863?

Lincoln's October 1863 proclamation made Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday of November; magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale had lobbied presidents for years for a single national day.

What was the name of the theater where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?

Lincoln was shot in the presidential box at Ford's Theatre on Good Friday 1865 and carried across the street to a boarding house, where he died the next morning.

Which political party did Abraham Lincoln belong to when elected president?

Lincoln was the first Republican president, elected in 1860. He had previously been a Whig but joined the newly formed Republican Party in the 1850s.

What document did Lincoln sign on January 1, 1863, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were to be set free. It did not immediately free all slaves but transformed the war into a fight for human liberty.

What number president of the United States was Abraham Lincoln?

The 16th president, Lincoln served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865.

In which year did Lincoln marry Mary Todd?

Lincoln married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842, at the Springfield home of her sister Elizabeth Edwards, a year after breaking off their engagement; her ring was engraved 'Love is eternal'.

Before becoming president, what profession did Lincoln practice?

Lincoln was a self-taught lawyer who earned his license in 1836. He practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, and became one of the most respected attorneys in the state before entering politics full-time.

In which state was Abraham Lincoln born?

Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1809; the family moved to Indiana when he was seven and to Illinois in 1830.

What famous speech did Lincoln deliver on November 19, 1863?

The Gettysburg Address, delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is one of the most quoted speeches in American history. It lasted just over two minutes.

Who assassinated Abraham Lincoln?

John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, fled on horseback after the shooting and was tracked down and killed in a Virginia barn twelve days later.

Which newspaper editor's 1862 'Prayer of Twenty Millions' prompted Lincoln's 'paramount object' reply?

Horace Greeley printed 'The Prayer of Twenty Millions' in his New York Tribune in August 1862; Lincoln replied that his paramount object was to save the Union, not to save or destroy slavery.

What nickname was commonly used for Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was nicknamed The Rail-Splitter at the 1860 Illinois Republican convention, recalling his youthful work splitting logs for fence rails.

Which amendment, championed by Lincoln, formally abolished slavery throughout the United States?

The 13th Amendment, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, formally abolished slavery throughout the United States. Lincoln worked hard to secure its passage.

Who served as Lincoln's first Vice President?

Hamlin of Maine served during the first term (1861-1865); for the second term Lincoln instead ran with a Southern War Democrat to broaden the ticket.

What play was being performed the night Lincoln was shot?

Tom Taylor's comedy Our American Cousin was in its third act; the assassin timed his shot to the line 'you sockdologizing old man-trap', which always drew loud laughter.

Which three-day battle of July 1863 is considered the turning point of the Civil War?

Gettysburg's Union victory ended Lee's second invasion of the North; Lincoln dedicated the soldiers' cemetery there that November.

What did Lincoln's Homestead Act of 1862 provide?

The Homestead Act of 1862 granted 160 acres of public land to any adult citizen (or intended citizen) who paid a small filing fee and agreed to improve the land by living on it for five years.

How tall was Abraham Lincoln?

At 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm), Lincoln remains the tallest president in American history. His height was notable even in his own time and contributed to his distinctive physical presence.

Which general did Lincoln appoint as commander of all Union armies in March 1864?

Grant's relentless Overland Campaign wore down Lee's army over the following year, at a cost in casualties that earned him the nickname 'the Butcher' in Northern papers.

Lincoln warned that "a house divided against itself cannot stand" on accepting a 1858 nomination for which office?

Lincoln gave the speech on June 16, 1858, accepting the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator at the state convention in Springfield; the biblical line warned the nation could not endure half slave and half free.

How many sons did Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln have?

The Lincolns had four sons; only the eldest lived to adulthood, while the other three died at ages 3, 11 and 18.

What was the first state to secede from the Union after Lincoln's election in 1860?

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860, just six weeks after Lincoln's election. Six more states followed before Lincoln even took office on March 4, 1861.

On which U.S. currency does Abraham Lincoln's portrait appear?

Lincoln's portrait has appeared on the $5 bill since 1914. He also appears on the penny (one-cent coin), which has featured his image since 1909, the centennial of his birth.

What was Lincoln's 1849 patent designed to do?

Patent No. 6,469 (1849) described inflatable bellows on a hull for lifting riverboats over shoals; Lincoln had twice been stranded on sandbars as a young flatboatman, and his wooden model went to the Smithsonian.

What was Lincoln's position on slavery when he first ran for president in 1860?

Lincoln's 1860 platform focused on preventing slavery's expansion into new territories, not immediate abolition. He personally opposed slavery but initially prioritized preserving the Union. His views evolved during the war toward full abolition.

Where did Robert E. Lee surrender to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, five days before Lincoln was shot?

Appomattox Court House, Virginia, saw Lee surrender to Grant on April 9, 1865, signalling the end of the war, though some Confederate forces kept fighting for weeks.

Who sculpted the seated Lincoln statue inside the Lincoln Memorial?

Daniel Chester French designed the 19-foot marble statue of a seated Lincoln, carved by the Piccirilli brothers and unveiled at the Lincoln Memorial's dedication in 1922.

What legislation signed by Lincoln in 1862 provided federal funding for land-grant colleges?

The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862, signed by Lincoln on July 2, gave states public land to endow colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts; Cornell and many state universities were founded under it.

Which two jobs did Lincoln hold in the Illinois village where he lived in his twenties?

In the village Lincoln worked as a store clerk and, from 1833, as postmaster; he also surveyed and co-owned a general store whose failure left debts he called his 'national debt'.

Lincoln grew his famous beard in 1860 on the advice of whom?

Grace Bedell of Westfield, New York, wrote that his thin face would look better with whiskers and that ladies would nag their husbands to vote for him. He was the first bearded president.

Who was Lincoln's Secretary of State, a former rival who became a close ally?

Seward had been the frontrunner for the party's 1860 nomination and was initially dismissive of Lincoln, but grew into one of his most loyal advisors. He was stabbed the same night Lincoln was shot, as part of the wider conspiracy.

What was the name of the small town in Illinois where Lincoln lived before moving to Springfield?

Lincoln lived in New Salem from 1831 to 1837, teaching himself law from borrowed books; the village was later reconstructed as a state historic site.

On what date was Abraham Lincoln shot?

Lincoln was shot on the evening of April 14, 1865, Good Friday, and died the following morning, the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

What did the Pacific Railroad Act, signed by Lincoln in 1862, authorize?

The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 authorized the first transcontinental line, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Sacramento, California; it was completed in 1869, after Lincoln's death.

Which Lincoln son died in the White House in 1862, devastating both Abraham and Mary?

William "Willie" Lincoln died on February 20, 1862, at age 11, likely of typhoid fever contracted from contaminated White House water. His death was one of the most painful events in Lincoln's life.

What did Lincoln suspend during the Civil War, allowing military detention without trial?

Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War, allowing the military to arrest and hold suspected Confederate sympathizers without judicial review. This controversial action was later upheld by Congress in 1863.

What was the highest federal office Lincoln held before becoming president?

He served a single term in the House (1847–49) and did not seek re-election; the administration offered him the post of secretary of the Oregon Territory as a consolation, which he turned down.

Who became president after Lincoln's assassination?

Andrew Johnson, Lincoln's second Vice President, became the 17th President upon Lincoln's death. Johnson's lenient Reconstruction policies clashed with Congress, leading to his impeachment (though he was acquitted by one vote).

What was Lincoln's Cooper Union Address in 1860 primarily about?

In the February 1860 speech in New York City, Lincoln meticulously argued that the Founding Fathers meant the federal government to have the power to restrict slavery in new territories; it catapulted him to national prominence.

Which 2005 Doris Kearns Goodwin book is about Lincoln and his cabinet?

Team of Rivals (2005) chronicles how Lincoln appointed his three main competitors for the 1860 nomination to his cabinet and won their loyalty.

What was the name of the woman Lincoln was reportedly in love with before marrying Mary Todd?

Ann Rutledge, who died in 1835, is widely believed to have been Lincoln's first love. Her early death reportedly left Lincoln deeply depressed. The extent of their relationship remains debated by historians.

During which conflict did the young Lincoln serve as a captain in the Illinois Militia?

In the 1832 Black Hawk War his own company elected him captain; he saw no combat and later joked in Congress that his only bloody struggles had been with mosquitoes.

Which September 1862 Union victory gave Lincoln the opening to announce emancipation?

Antietam (September 17, 1862) was the bloodiest single day in American military history; though tactically a draw, Lee's retreat gave Lincoln enough of a victory to issue his preliminary proclamation five days later.

Which famous orator spoke for two hours at Gettysburg before Lincoln gave his two-minute address?

Edward Everett, one of America's most renowned orators, delivered a 13,607-word speech lasting over two hours at Gettysburg. Lincoln's 272-word address followed. Everett later wrote to Lincoln: "I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes."

What was the primary purpose of the banking law Lincoln signed in 1863?

The 1863 Act chartered federally regulated banks and pushed a uniform paper currency to help fund the war; the Federal Reserve would not exist for another fifty years. The 'greenbacks' themselves came from the separate Legal Tender Act of 1862.

Which of Lincoln's sons survived to old age?

Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926) was the only Lincoln son to survive to adulthood and old age. He served as Secretary of War under Presidents Garfield and Arthur, and later as U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom.

What did Secretary of War Edwin Stanton reportedly say at Lincoln's deathbed?

When Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton reportedly said, "Now he belongs to the ages" (some accounts say "angels"). The phrase has become one of the most famous quotes in American history.

Where is Abraham Lincoln buried?

He lies in the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, which also holds the remains of Mary Todd Lincoln and three of their sons.

How many popular votes did Lincoln receive when he won his first presidential election in 1860?

Lincoln polled about 1.86 million popular votes, just under 40% in a four-way race, yet took a decisive 180 of 303 electoral votes.

Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States during which major conflict?

Abraham Lincoln led the United States through the American Civil War, serving as president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.

Lincoln's 1847 'Spot Resolutions' in Congress challenged the start of which war?

As a freshman congressman, Lincoln introduced the Spot Resolutions in December 1847, demanding President Polk name the exact spot where American blood was shed to justify the Mexican-American War.

Which 1862 Lincoln document called the Union 'the last best hope of earth'?

Lincoln's Annual Message to Congress of December 1, 1862, closed by calling the Union 'the last best hope of earth' while urging a plan of gradual, compensated emancipation.

Which weapon did Lincoln choose for his aborted 1842 duel with James Shields?

Challenged by state auditor James Shields over satirical newspaper letters in 1842, Lincoln chose cavalry broadswords to exploit his long reach; seconds negotiated a settlement before anyone swung.

In what year did Abraham Lincoln first win election to the Illinois State Legislature?

Lincoln lost his first run for the Illinois General Assembly in 1832, then won a seat in 1834 and went on to serve four consecutive terms in the state House.

What was the name of Abraham Lincoln's stepmother, who encouraged his education?

Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow with three children, married Thomas Lincoln in December 1819 and brought books such as Aesop's Fables and The Pilgrim's Progress into the household.

What share of a state's 1860 voters had to swear loyalty under Lincoln's 1863 Reconstruction plan?

Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction of December 8, 1863, the Ten Percent Plan, let a seceded state form a new government once 10 percent of its 1860 voters took a loyalty oath.

In which city was Lincoln nominated for president on the third ballot in May 1860?

The May 1860 Republican convention met in the Wigwam, a hall built for the occasion in Chicago; the front-runner going in was New York's senator, whom Lincoln overtook on the third ballot.

What was the total amount of formal schooling Abraham Lincoln received during his childhood?

Despite his keen intellect, Abraham Lincoln received minimal formal education, with his total schooling amounting to less than one year. He was largely self-taught.

Which repeating rifle did Lincoln personally test-fire near the White House in August 1863?

Christopher Spencer demonstrated his seven-shot repeating rifle to Lincoln in August 1863 and the president fired it himself on the grounds south of the White House; large Army orders followed.

Abraham Lincoln's famous debates in 1858 were against which politician?

There were seven debates with an atmosphere 'akin to a prizefight'; the Democrats kept the legislature and re-elected Douglas, but Lincoln came out of it a national figure.

Who served as Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy for his entire presidency?

Gideon Welles of Connecticut ran the Navy Department from 1861 to 1869, overseeing the blockade of Southern ports; Lincoln nicknamed him 'Father Neptune'.

Which fallen Confederate capital did Lincoln walk through on April 4, 1865?

Lincoln toured Richmond, Virginia, on April 4, 1865, two days after the Confederate government fled, and sat at Jefferson Davis's desk in the Confederate White House.

Which 1861 crisis over two Confederate envoys seized from a British ship did Lincoln defuse?

In the Trent Affair the North celebrated the November 1861 seizure of envoys Mason and Slidell, Britain protested vehemently, and Lincoln released the pair rather than fight two wars at once.

Which Lincoln speech contains the words 'with malice toward none, with charity for all'?

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, delivered March 4, 1865, closed 'with malice toward none, with charity for all', urging a generous peace six weeks before his death.

How old was Abraham Lincoln when he died?

Lincoln was 56 at his death, two months past his birthday, and the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

Who was Lincoln's first Secretary of War, replaced by Edwin Stanton in January 1862?

Simon Cameron, the Pennsylvania political boss, ran the War Department from March 1861 until Lincoln eased him out in January 1862 with the post of minister to Russia.

Under which party label did Lincoln run for re-election in 1864?

In 1864 Lincoln ran under the National Union banner, a wartime coalition of Republicans and War Democrats, with a Tennessee War Democrat as his running mate.

Through which city did Lincoln pass in secret in February 1861 to dodge an assassination plot?

Warned by detective Allan Pinkerton of a plot in Baltimore, Lincoln passed through the city on a night train in the early hours of February 23, 1861, reaching Washington unannounced.

Which law partner from 1844 described Lincoln's face as 'long, narrow, sallow, and cadaverous'?

Herndon was the third of Lincoln's three partners after Stuart and Logan, and after Lincoln's death lectured that his old partner had been a religious 'unbeliever'.

Lincoln's proclamation of January 1, 1863 declared enslaved people free in which areas?

It applied only to the Confederate states still in rebellion, ten states outside Union control, and exempted occupied areas and the loyal border states, which is why a constitutional amendment was still needed.

Which federal fort in Charleston harbour did Confederate forces bombard to start the Civil War?

Fort Sumter's commander, Major Robert Anderson, had warned he was nearly out of food; Lincoln chose to resupply rather than reinforce, and the bombardment of April 12-13, 1861 rallied the North.

Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died from what illness?

Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died of milk sickness in 1818 when Abraham was nine years old.

Which of these famous lines is Abraham Lincoln's?

'Government of the people, by the people, for the people' ends Lincoln's November 1863 cemetery dedication speech; the other lines belong to Patrick Henry, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

Mary Todd Lincoln was born in 1818 into a wealthy banking family in which Kentucky city?

Lexington, Kentucky, is where Mary Todd was born in December 1818, the fourth of seven children of a wealthy slave-owning banker; her girlhood home was later preserved as a museum.

Which 1854 act, repealing the Missouri Compromise line, drew Lincoln back into politics?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 let territorial settlers vote on slavery north of the old Missouri Compromise line; Lincoln's outrage at the repeal pulled him back into politics with his October 1854 Peoria speech.

Which phrase closes Lincoln's First Inaugural Address of March 1861?

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address of March 4, 1861, ended with a plea that the 'mystic chords of memory' be touched 'by the better angels of our nature', hoping to keep secession from sliding into war.

Roughly how many words long was Lincoln's ten-sentence Gettysburg speech in November 1863?

Counts vary by a word or two between the five surviving manuscript copies, which is why 271 and 272 are both quoted; either way it took Lincoln about two minutes.

Sinking Spring Farm, where Lincoln was born, sits today in which local jurisdiction?

At his birth the farm lay in Hardin County; LaRue County was carved out of it in 1843, which is why older references disagree.

After being shot, Lincoln was carried across the street to die in which building?

Lincoln died in the Petersen House at 7:22 the next morning; the boarding house was later preserved by the National Park Service as part of the assassination site.

In his famous 1858 defense of Duff Armstrong, Lincoln discredited a witness using what?

Defending Duff Armstrong, son of an old friend, Lincoln produced an almanac showing the moon had been near the horizon when the witness claimed to have seen the blow by moonlight; Armstrong was acquitted.

Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas Lincoln, primarily worked in what profession?

Thomas Lincoln was a farmer who also worked as a carpenter; he regularly hired his son out to neighbouring farms, keeping the boy's wages as the law then allowed.

Lincoln was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in what year?

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honoured Lincoln as an 'Outstanding American' in 1992; his best-known bout was his 1831 match with Jack Armstrong, leader of the Clary's Grove boys.

Whom did Lincoln appoint as Chief Justice after Roger Taney's death in 1864?

Chase had been his Treasury secretary; Lincoln thought he would back Reconstruction laws and unite the Republican Party.

Which former Union general ran against Lincoln as the Democratic nominee in 1864?

Lincoln had removed McClellan as general-in-chief in 1862, frustrated by his slow, over-cautious campaigning.

After Zachary Taylor's 1848 win, which post did the administration offer Lincoln, which he declined?

After losing his bid to be commissioner of the General Land Office, Lincoln was offered the secretaryship of the Oregon Territory, then its governorship, and declined both.

In the 1855 Senate contest, Lincoln withdrew and told his backers to vote for whom?

Lyman Trumbull, an anti-slavery Democrat, had only five votes on the first ballot, but Lincoln's withdrawal and the combined support defeated mainstream Democrat Joel Matteson.

In which 1861 opinion did Chief Justice Taney rule that only Congress could suspend the writ?

Taney issued Ex parte Merryman in May 1861 as a circuit justice, not for the full Supreme Court, and Lincoln ignored it.