Abraham Lincoln

Born 2/12/1809 Hardin, Kentucky (Larue County)

Died 4/15/1865

Lincoln stood 6'4" and weighed 180 lbs.

Father: Thomas Lincoln

Mother: Nancy Hanks (Died in 1818)

Grandfather: Abraham Lincoln

Secretaries were Nicolay and Hay, who wrote "Abraham Lincoln: Complete Works"

Abraham Lincoln studied English grammar after the age of 23. Studied the 6 books of Euclid since he was a member of Congress. Never in a college or academy until he had a law license. Lincoln helped build a boat for Denton Offutt , then Offutt hired Lincoln to clerk his store and mill in 1831.

Black Hawk War of 1832 joined a volunteer company and was elected captain. Ran for legislature in 1832 and lost. Elected to legislature in 1834, 1836, 1838, and 1840. Obtained law license in 1836. Moved to Springfield, Illinois on 4/15/1837 and commenced practice. Was an avowed Clay man (Whig). Lincoln was a Senate candidate in 1854 as an anti Nebraska Whig. He was defeated by Lyman Trumbull. In 1858, Lincoln again was a Senate candidate and again lost, this time to Stephen Arnold Douglas.

Source: "Addresses and Letters" by Abraham Lincoln

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

—Abraham Lincoln