We don’t think there is anyone in this world who doesn’t know Abraham Lincoln. Irrespective of whether you admire his work or criticize it, you must know something about him. Today in this article on Abraham Lincoln Facts, we will learn a lot more about him.
You may already know a few of these facts but there are certainly a few more that will leave you surprised. So, let us begin….
Abraham Lincoln Facts 1-10
1. He was born on 12 February 1809. His parents were Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Lincoln.
2. He was born in a single room log cabin in Kentucky’s Hardin County.
3. In the year 1816, his family moved from Hardin County to southern Indiana.
4. As his family was poor, he couldn’t study properly. He had to support his family by working.
5. In 1830, his family moved again to Southern Illinois’ Macon County. There he earned a job of hauling freight on a riverboat from the River Mississippi to New Orleans.
6. He became a postmaster and a shopkeeper in New Salem, Illinois. It was in this place that he became involved in politics and supported the Whig Party.
7. He won an election in the Illinois state legislature on a Whig Party’s ticket in 1834.
8. He strongly opposed slavery just like other Whig Party leaders like Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.
9. He self-taught law and passed the exams in 1836. In 1837, he moved to Springfield’s capital.
10. There he worked as a lawyer and served clients who were individuals to national railroad lines.
Abraham Lincoln Facts 11-20
11. He married Mary Todd in 1842. He had four kids from her – Robert Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln, William Wallace Lincoln, and Thomas Lincoln.
12. In 1846, he won the election of US House of Representatives. He started serving his term in 1847.
13. He was strongly against American-Mexican War and because of this, many voters of Illinois didn’t support him.
14. He later returned to Springfield in 1849. In 1854, he came back in politics with Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854).
15. He joined Republican Party in 1856 as the Whig Party was in ruins. He fought for the Senate in 1855 and 1856.
16. He lost both the times but his popularity grew in the latter half of the 1850s.
17. In 1860, he gave an astounding speech at Copper Union, New York City. That speech increased his popularity even further.
18. Republicans chose Lincoln as their presidential candidate. This time, he won. He became the 16th President of the United States of America.
19. Unfortunately, as soon as he became the President of the USA, civil war broke in the USA.
20. He suspended few civil liberties during the war like habeas corpus which drew criticism.
Abraham Lincoln Facts 21-30
21. He freed all the slaves in 1863 by issuing an Emancipation Proclamation on 1 January 1863 amidst the civil war.
22. The Union won few strategic battles like Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
23. He was re-elected as the President of the US in 1864. By 1864, Union was on the verge of victory in the civil war.
24. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to see the actual victory of the Union. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, an actor and a supporter of Confederates, at Washington D.C.’s Ford Theatre on 14 April 1865.
25. Booth shot him point-blank. He was taken to a boardinghouse which was across the street from the theater. He breathed his last on 15 April 1865.
26. He became a national martyr. His body was carried to the Springfield and was buried on 4 May 1865.
27. His body was taken in a train which travelled through 180 cities present in 7 states. Many mourned his death.
28. The guest of Lincoln at Ford Theater was Ulysses S. Grant. He backed off from coming in the very last second.
29. Fido, Lincoln’s dog, was also assassinated. The dog was killed by a drunkard just a year after Lincoln died.
30. Brooks Brothers made his suit. He kept his documents inside his hat.
You May Also Like: -- Donald Trump Childhood Facts -- George Washington Facts -- John Adams Facts -- Andrew Jackson Facts
Abraham Lincoln Facts 31-40
31. He was about to participate in a duel but the duel was cancelled at the last minute.
32. He suffered from depression for most part of his life.
33. He defended his wrestling opponent’s son from murder charges. He was also a judge of the circuit court of Illinois.
34. He was the first President of the United States of America to be assassinated.
35. He was crazy for cats, well, who isn’t crazy for cats?
36. Someone shot at Lincoln’s hat in 1864.
37. Life of Lincoln’s son was saved on a train platform of New Jersey by Booth’s brother.
38. There are no direct descendants of Abraham Lincoln alive as of today.
39. During his second inauguration as USA’s President, he was photographed with his assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
40. Did you know Lincoln was shot on Good Friday?
Abraham Lincoln Facts 41-50
41. Animals of Lincoln died in a stable fire in the White House.
42. He didn’t play any musical instrument.
43. He was estranged from his father and didn’t even attend his father’s funeral.
44. Lincoln’s coffin was opened 5 times before burying.
45. His shoe size was anywhere between 12 and 14. He failed in his first business venture.
46. He was the first president to have a beard. In 1849, He fought a case in the Supreme Court and lost the case.
47. The life of Lincoln was saved twice when he was young. He had a formal schooling for only 18 months.
48. In 1876, the plan of grave robbers was foiled. They tried to steal Lincoln’s dead body.
49. His mother was killed by poisoned milk in 1818. He was 9 years old then.
50. He was the first president to use telegraph. He used telegraph to communicate with generals.
Abraham Lincoln Facts 51-60
51. He was a fan of chicken casserole. Fruit was his favorite food. He loved eating oysters.
52. He had a cat, Tabby. He used to have his meals at the dining table of the White House. He loved animals so much that he never hunted fish!
53. He was the first US president to take birth outside the 13 original states.
54. Thanksgiving was declared as a national holiday by Lincoln.
55. He preferred to be called Lincoln and didn’t like people addressing him ‘Abe’ one bit.
56. He was a very simple man. He never smoked or drank.
57. He invented a device that could free steamboats that ran aground. He was the only president to obtain a patent.
58. Lincoln Bedroom in the White House was used as his office.
59. Lincoln created the Secret Service on 14 April 1865. He created it to fight against currency counterfeiting.
60. He is present in the Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Sources…