Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln — Lawyer

Born 12 Feb 1809 United States

Died 15 Apr 1865 Washington, United States

Citizenship United States

18 min read

Reading time

3,555

Words

Feb 27, 2026

Published

1

Film credit

83

Books

TL;DR

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a Kentucky log cabin. He served as the 16th US President from 1861 to 1865, leading the Union during the Civil War. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and delivered the Gettysburg Address. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.

Identity & family.

KIN · 8

Names, aliases, and relatives of Abraham Lincoln — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Nicknames Ancient Abe, The Buffoon, Caesar, Father Abraham, The Flatboat Man, The Grand Wrestler, The Great Emancipator, Honest Abe, The Illinois Baboon, The Jester, Long 'Un, Man of the People, The Martyr President, The Railsplitter, The Sage of Springfield, The Sectional President, The Tycoon, The Tyrant, Uncle Abe

PARENTS: Nancy Hanks Lincoln Thomas Lincoln
SPOUSES: Mary Todd Lincoln
CHILDREN: Edward Baker Lincoln Tad Lincoln Robert Todd Lincoln William Wallace Lincoln
SIBLINGS: Sarah Lincoln Grigsby

At a glance.

STATS

Abraham Lincoln by the numbers — life, work, and family.

56 Years lived

1 Film credit

83 Books

1 Marriage

4 Children

Who was Abraham Lincoln?

BIOGRAPHY

Abraham Lincoln — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

On February 12, 1809, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln had a son in a one-room log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. They named him Abraham. Both parents were illiterate farmers. When Lincoln was nine, his mother died of milk sickness from drinking contaminated cow milk.

His father remarried Sarah Bush Johnston, who became a close stepmother. Lincoln educated himself through books on law, literature, and history, having received only about 18 months of formal schooling. As a teenager, he was tall and athletic, known for his wrestling skills.

Career

Lincoln won a seat in the Illinois General Assembly in 1834 as a Whig. He taught himself law and was admitted to the bar in 1836. From 1847 to 1849, he served a single term in the US House of Representatives, where he opposed the Mexican-American War.

In 1858, Lincoln gained national fame through his debates with Stephen A. Douglas during a Senate campaign. Though he lost the election, the debates made him a Republican star. Lincoln won the presidency in 1860 as the first Republican, capturing no Southern electoral votes.

As president, Lincoln led the Union during the Civil War. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves in Confederate states. He also delivered the Gettysburg Address in November 1863, redefining the purpose of the war.

Personal life

Lincoln married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842. Mary came from a wealthy Kentucky family and was well-educated. They had four sons: Robert, Edward, William, and Tad. Willie died in the White House in 1862 at age 11, devastating his parents.

Depression and insomnia plagued Lincoln. He and Mary held séances in the White House, interested in psychic phenomena. His first love, Ann Rutledge, died of typhoid in 1835, causing severe depression. Lincoln had a high-pitched voice and a sharp sense of humor.

Legacy

Lincoln preserved the Union and ended slavery, earning a consistent ranking as one of the greatest US presidents. His Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation are foundational American documents. His 1865 assassination made him the first US president to be killed in office and a martyr.

His likeness appears on the penny 1909 and the $5 bill. Dedicated in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors his legacy. He has over 200 national parks named after him. His birthplace is a national historic site. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted Lincoln in 1992, and the Hall of Fame for Great Americans inducted him in 1900.

Filmography.

FILMS · 1

Browse the complete filmography of Abraham Lincoln — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

Explained

2018

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 83

Abraham Lincoln's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

The Gettysburg Address

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

The Writings of Abraham Lincoln

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

Autobiography

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

by Abraham Lincoln et al.
Amazon

The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

Lives and Speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin

by Abraham Lincoln et al.
Amazon

Abraham Lincoln's Stories and Speeches

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

Speeches and Letters of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

by Abraham Lincoln et al.
Amazon

Anecdotes of Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln's Stories

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

Letters and Addresses of Abraham Lincoln

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

The Speeches of Abraham Lincoln

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

Collected Works

by Abraham Lincoln
Amazon

Speeches

by Abraham Lincoln

Could not load more books.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 36

A wall of memorable lines from Abraham Lincoln — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

It Has Been My Experience That People Who Have No Vices Have Very Few Virtues.
America Will Never Be Destroyed from the Outside. If We Falter, and Lose Our Freedoms, It Will Be Because We Destroyed Ourselves.
You Have to Do Your Own Growing No Matter How Tall Your Grandfather Was.
Everything I Am or Ever Hope to Be, I Owe to My Angel Mother.
The Things I Want to Know Are in Books; My Best Friend Is the Man Who’ll Get Me a Book I Ain’t Read.
I Fear Explanations Explanatory of Things Explained.
He Will Have to Learn, I Know, That All People Are Not Just That All Men and Women Are Not True. Teach Him That for Every Scoundrel There Is a Hero That for Every Enemy There Is a Friend. Let Him Learn Early That the Bullies Are the Easiest People to Lick.
I’m a Slow Walker, but I Never Walk Back.
I Like to See a Man Proud of the Place in Which He Lives. I Like to See a Man Live so That His Place Will Be Proud of Him.
I Don’t Know Who My Grandfather Was; I Am Much More Concerned to Know Who His Grandson Will Be.
No Matter How Much Cats Fight, There Always Seem to Be Plenty of Kittens.
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.
The Better Part of One’s Life Consists of His Friendships.
It Has Been My Experience That Folks Who Have No Vices Have Very Few Virtues.
Most People Are About as Happy as They Make up Their Minds to Be.
I Believe the Bible Is the Best Gift God Has Ever Given to Men. All the Good from the Savior of the World Is Communicated to Us Through This Book.
As I Would Not Be a Slave, so I Would Not Be a Master. This Expresses My Idea of Democracy.
Things May Come to Those Who Wait. but Only the Things Left by Those Who Hustle.
That Some Should Be Rich Shows That Others May Become Rich, and Hence Is Just Encouragement to Industry and Enterprise.
Whatever You Are, Be a Good One.
The Best Thing About the Future Is That It Comes Only One Day at a Time.
Am I Not Destroying My Enemies When I Make Friends of Them?
Quarrel Not at All. No Man Resolved to Make the Most of Himself Can Spare Time for Personal Contention. Still Less Can He Afford to Take All the Consequences, Including the Vitiating of His Temper and Loss of Self Control.
I Have Been Driven Many Times to My Knees by the Overwhelming Conviction That I Had Nowhere Else to Go.
Truth Is Generally the Best Vindication Against Slander.
Character Is Like a Tree and Reputation Like Its Shadow. the Shadow Is What We Think of It; the Tree Is the Real Thing.
I Don’t Know Who My Grandfather Was; I Am Concerned to Know What His Grandson Will Be.
The Desire to Work Is so Rare That Is Must Be Encouraged Wherever It Is Found.
No Man Has a Good Enough Memory to Make a Successful Liar.
Among Free Men There Can Be No Successful Appeal from the Ballot to the Bullet…The Ballot Is Stronger Than the Bullet.
Let Us Have Faith That Right Makes Right; and in That Faith Let Us to the End Dare to Do Our Duty as We Understand It.
Tact Is the Ability to Describe Others as They See Themselves.
I Don’t Like That Man. I Must Get to Know Him Better.
If This Is Tea, Then Bring Me Some Coffee. If This Is Coffee, Then Bring Me Some Tea.
I Am Not Concerned That You Have Fallen. I Am Concerned That You Arise.
Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool Than to Speak Out and Remove All Doubt.

Did you know?

FACTS · 50

Little-known facts about Abraham Lincoln — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He was the first president photographed at his inauguration, and his assassin John Wilkes Booth appears in the same image.
The last line of the play he heard before being shot was You sockdagolized old mantrap! which caused laughter that covered Booth’s gunshot.
Through his mother Nancy Hanks, Lincoln is related to Camille O. Cosby and Tom Hanks.
He was the first US president to be assassinated.
He was the first president to have a beard.
Samuel J. Seymour, who was five at the time of the assassination, was the last living witness to the event and appeared on a TV show in 1956.
He wrote all his own speeches, including the Gettysburg Address.
He suffered from insomnia and would often walk the White House halls at night.
He invited black abolitionist Frederick Douglass to his second inauguration and personally welcomed him when guards refused entry.
In his youth, Lincoln was a wrestler and once performed a move later known as a chokeslam.
He was shot with a .44-caliber Deringer pistol while attending the play Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre on Good Friday, April 14, 1865.
He never attended school or college; he was largely self-taught.
His son Robert Lincoln was present at the assassinations of Presidents Garfield and McKinley as well.
He and his wife Mary held séances in the White House due to their interest in psychic phenomena.
His last surviving descendant, Robert Lincoln Beckwith, died in 1985.
Mary Surratt, a conspirator in his assassination, was the first woman executed by the US federal government.
It is now believed Lincoln suffered from Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia MEN, which may account for his height.
He disliked being called Abe and preferred to be called by his last name.
The Lincoln cent, issued in 1909, was the first US coin to feature a president’s likeness.
His voice was described as high-pitched and nasal.
At 6’4, he remains the tallest US president.
Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton said, Now he belongs to the ages at Lincoln’s deathbed, later inscribed above his grave.
He was the first major American leader to advocate for women’s voting rights, writing on the subject in 1836.
His coffin has been moved 17 times and opened five times since his original burial in 1865.
He was the first president born outside the original 13 colonies.
After his assassination, his son Willie’s casket was disinterred to travel with Lincoln’s body back to Illinois.
His wife Mary Todd had a long history of mental health issues, possibly narcissistic personality disorder.
Son Willie died during Lincoln’s first year in the White House in 1862.
The contents of his pockets on the night of his assassination were revealed in 1976, including two pairs of spectacles, a Confederate five-dollar bill, and other items.
He was born on the same day as Charles Darwin: February 12, 1809.
Contrary to popular belief, the bullet entered behind his left ear, not the back of his head.
He was inducted into the National Railroad Hall of Fame.
He once attended a performance of The Marble Heart featuring John Wilkes Booth, his future assassin.
He is the only non-British citizen with a statue in Parliament Square in London.
He loved the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
During the Civil War, he crossed the street to the War Department to get telegraph news because there was no telegraph office in the White House.
He is the only US president to hold a patent, for a device to lift boats over shoals.
He had one sister, Sarah, who was two years older, and a brother who died in infancy.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1900 as part of the inaugural class.
He was the first Republican president.
His mother Nancy Hanks died after drinking milk from a cow that ate white snakeroot.
He was 52 years old when he became president.
He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992 as an Outstanding American.
He first spoke out against slavery in 1837 to the Illinois state legislature.
His portrait appears on the 4-cent US stamp in the Liberty Series issued November 19, 1954.
West Virginia 1863 and Nevada 1864 were admitted to the Union during his administration.
Before becoming president, he worked as a store clerk, rail-splitter, and lawyer.
He has more national parks named in his honor than any other president.
Queen Victoria wrote a letter of condolence to Lincoln’s widow after his assassination.
He was the 16th president of the US, serving from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 56

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Abraham Lincoln.

When was Abraham Lincoln born?

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky. He was born in a one-room log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm.
Where was Abraham Lincoln born?

He was born at Nolin Creek in Hardin County, which is now part of LaRue County, Kentucky. The location is near the modern city of Hodgenville.
When did Abraham Lincoln die?

He died on April 15, 1865, one day after being shot. The assassination occurred on April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
How old was Abraham Lincoln when he died?

He was 56 years old at the time of his death. He was born on February 12, 1809 and died on April 15, 1865.
Where did Abraham Lincoln die?

He died in the Petersen House across the street from Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The shooting took place in the theater itself.
How did Abraham Lincoln die?

He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer. Booth shot him in the back of the head with a .44-caliber Deringer pistol while Lincoln watched a play.
What is Abraham Lincoln best known for?

He is best known for serving as the 16th President of the United States during the Civil War. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and delivered the Gettysburg Address.
What nationality is Abraham Lincoln?

He was an American. He was born in the United States and served as the US President.
What language did Abraham Lincoln speak?

His native language was English. He wrote and delivered all of his own speeches.
Who were Abraham Lincoln's parents?

His parents were Thomas Lincoln, an illiterate farmer, and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Both were born in Virginia.
Who was Abraham Lincoln married to?

He married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842. Mary came from a wealthy Kentucky family and was known for her high social standing.
How many children did Abraham Lincoln have?

He had four sons: Robert Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln, William Wallace Lincoln, and Tad Lincoln. Only Robert lived to adulthood.
Did Abraham Lincoln have any siblings?

He had one sister, Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, who was two years older. A brother died in infancy.
How tall was Abraham Lincoln?

He stood 6 feet 4 inches 1.93 m, making him the tallest US president. His height may have been due to a genetic condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia.
Why was Abraham Lincoln called 'Honest Abe'?

He earned the nickname Honest Abe after voluntarily returning money when he accidentally overcharged a customer at his general store in New Salem. His reputation for integrity became well-known.
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

It was an executive order issued by Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declaring the freedom of slaves in ten Confederate states. It transformed the Civil War into a fight against slavery.
What is the Gettysburg Address?

It is a short speech Lincoln delivered on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It redefined the war as a struggle for national unity and equality.
Who assassinated Abraham Lincoln?

John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer, shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. Booth died from gunshot wounds later that month.
What were Lincoln's last words?

His last words were likely spoken during the play Our American Cousin. The line You sockdagolized old mantrap! was the punchline that triggered laughter covering Booth’s shot.
Was Abraham Lincoln the first US president to be assassinated?

Yes, he was the first of four American presidents assassinated in office. His death shocked the nation and made him a martyr.
What did Lincoln do before becoming president?

He worked as a store clerk, rail-splitter, surveyor, postmaster, and lawyer. He also served in the Illinois legislature and the US House of Representatives.
Did Abraham Lincoln attend school?

He received very little formal schooling, only about 18 months total. He was largely self-taught through extensive reading.
What were Lincoln's occupations listed on IMDb?

IMDb lists his occupations as writer and soundtrack artist. He wrote his own speeches, and his words have been featured in many film scores.
How many terms did Lincoln serve as president?

He served one full term and was elected to a second term. He was assassinated just six weeks after his second inauguration in March 1865.
What was Lincoln's relationship with Frederick Douglass?

Lincoln invited Douglass to his second inaugural ball. When guards refused Douglass entry, Lincoln personally greeted him and declared him a friend.
Did Lincoln have any nicknames?

Yes, many, including Honest Abe, The Great Emancipator, The Railsplitter, Father Abraham, and The Martyr President. He disliked being called Abe.
What was unusual about Lincoln's coffin?

His coffin has been moved 17 times and opened five times since 1865 due to tomb construction. It was also exhumed to move his son Willie alongside him.
What was in Lincoln's pockets the night he was assassinated?

The contents, revealed in 1976, included two pairs of spectacles, a pocketknife, a handkerchief embroidered A. Lincoln, and a Confederate five-dollar bill, among other items.
Did Lincoln have any interest in the paranormal?

Yes, he and his wife Mary held séances in the White House. They were interested in psychic phenomena, partly due to the deaths of their son Willie.
What is the Lincoln Memorial?

It is a national monument in Washington, D.C. dedicated to Lincoln in 1922. It contains a large seated statue of Lincoln and inscriptions of his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address.
How is Lincoln depicted on US currency?

His portrait appears on the penny first issued in 1909 and the $5 bill. The Lincoln cent was the first US coin to feature a president’s image.
What was Lincoln's role in women's suffrage?

He was the first major American leader to advocate for women’s voting rights, writing on the subject in 1836. However, women’s suffrage was not achieved until 1920.
Did Lincoln have any hobbies?

He loved attending the theater and reading, especially the works of Edgar Allan Poe. He also enjoyed wrestling in his youth.
Who was Lincoln's vice president?

His first vice president was Hannibal Hamlin 1861-1865. For his second term, the vice president was Andrew Johnson, who became president after Lincoln’s assassination.
What is the significance of Lincoln's patent?

He is the only US president to hold a patent, granted in 1849 for a device to lift boats over shoals. It was never manufactured.
How many states were admitted during Lincoln's presidency?

Two states were admitted: West Virginia in 1863 and Nevada in 1864. Both were Union states during the Civil War.
What was Lincoln's stance on slavery?

He personally opposed slavery and spoke out against it as early as 1837. He adopted a free soil policy but initially favored compensated emancipation and colonization.
Did Lincoln have any connection to Charles Darwin?

They were born on the exact same day: February 12, 1809. There is no known connection between them.
What was the 'Gettysburg Address' about?

In just 272 words, Lincoln honored the soldiers who died at Gettysburg and called for a new birth of freedom to ensure that government of the people, by the people, for the people would not perish.
How did Lincoln's mother die?

Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of milk sickness in 1818 when Lincoln was nine. She drank milk from a cow that had eaten white snakeroot, which contains tremetol poison.
What is the Lincoln Tomb?

It is the final resting place of Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their sons, located at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. It became a state historic site.
Did Lincoln have any known mental health issues?

He suffered from depression and insomnia throughout his life. Some historians believe he may have had clinical depression, and he once wrote a poem about suicide.
What was Lincoln's relationship with Stephen A. Douglas?

Douglas was a political rival and also a suitor of Mary Todd before she married Lincoln. They debated seven times during the 1858 Senate campaign, raising Lincoln’s national profile.
How did Lincoln's son Robert Todd Lincoln die?

Robert Todd Lincoln died in 1926 at age 83. He was the only one of Lincoln’s sons to survive to adulthood, and he had a distinguished career as a lawyer and diplomat.
What is the 'House Divided' speech?

Lincoln delivered this speech on June 16, 1858 during his Senate campaign. It stated a house divided against itself cannot stand, arguing that the nation could not endure half slave and half free.
Did Lincoln ever attend college?

No, he never attended college or university. He was entirely self-educated through reading and apprenticeships.
Who was Lincoln's stepmother?

His stepmother was Sarah Bush Johnston, whom his father Thomas Lincoln married in 1819. She was a widow with three children and encouraged Lincoln’s reading.
What was the military strategy of Lincoln during the Civil War?

Lincoln shaped Union military strategy, expanding his war powers and recruiting black soldiers after the Emancipation Proclamation. He supported aggressive campaigns against Confederate forces.
How many soldiers voted for Lincoln in the 1864 election?

78% of Union soldiers voted for Lincoln in the 1864 election. They did not want a compromise peace with the Confederacy.
What is the significance of the year 1858 for Lincoln?

In 1858, Lincoln challenged Stephen A. Douglas for a US Senate seat. The Lincoln-Douglas debates made him a national figure, though he lost the election.
What was Lincoln's first political office?

His first political office was as a member of the Illinois General Assembly, to which he was elected in 1834 as a Whig. He served four terms.
Why is Lincoln considered a great president?

He is revered for preserving the Union during the Civil War and for ending slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation. His leadership and eloquence make him a symbol of American democracy.
What are some of Lincoln's famous quotes?

Famous quotes include Government of the people, by the people, for the people from the Gettysburg Address and A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Did Lincoln have any pets?

The source does not mention pets. However, he reportedly kept a turkey that his son Tad wanted to save from being killed for Christmas dinner.
How did people react to Lincoln's assassination?

The nation mourned deeply. His funeral train traveled 1,700 miles from Washington to Springfield, and millions lined the tracks to pay respects.
What is the legacy of Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln is remembered as a martyr and a champion of liberty. His face adorns Mount Rushmore, and his Memorial is a symbol of civil rights.

View all 56 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on February 27, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue