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By Anthony Berger – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. He was the 16th President of the United States of America.

His parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks were farmers. They lived in Kentucky and later on moved to Perry County, Indiana in 1816.

When he was nine years old, his mother died of milk sickness. After mourning the loss of his wife, Lincoln’s father married Sarah Bush Johnston.

Lincoln had a close relationship with his stepmother and always referred to her as Mother as opposed to Stepmother. She gave him all the support he needed while self-educating.

Americans remember Abraham Lincoln as the president who signed the Emancipation Proclamation as well as his leadership during the American Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln’s election to the White House places him as one of the most influential and important leaders in American politics.

Lincoln was President for 5 years, from 4 March 1861 until his assassination by John Wilkes Booth on 15 April 1865.

With that brief background, let’s look at the top 10 facts about Abraham Lincoln.

1. While Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, he didn’t know what to do with them

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Lincoln’s stand on ending slavery was clear, he was firmly against it. What was unclear was what happens to them after they were emancipated.

Historians noted that President Lincoln took a very long time trying to figure out the next step after they were freed.

In his emancipation speech that was delivered in 1863, President Lincoln failed to give clear guidelines on what should be done. There was no mention of granting African-Americans citizenship or equal rights.  

Some historians believed that Lincoln was a racist because he never considered black people to be an essential part of American society.

Lincoln had suggested that African Americans be sent back to Africa.

2. He ran for the US senate twice

Before running for the top seat, Lincoln ran for the senate twice after serving a single term in the house of representatives.

Lincoln served the Illinois House of Representatives for four terms. His first attempt for the senate seat saw him losing by five votes.

The second attempt saw him lose to Douglas in 1858 during the famous debated. Lincoln had been featured in local newspapers across the country.

He was already famous for his powerful anti-slavery speech. It acquired him national recognition.

3. Abraham Lincoln was aware of his assassination attempt

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You may be surprised to learn that Abraham Lincoln was aware of plans to assassinate him.

He was in the know four years before John Wilkes Booth and killed him. His political enemies had been plotting his death. Unfortunately, there was no secret service at that time.

His security team together with his advisors tried their best to stop him from attending the multicity train tour.  It was to run till March 1861, his inauguration in Washington.

On the night he was assassinated, Lincoln’s bodyguard was absent and Booth planned to shoot Lincoln when the crowd broke into laughter.

4. The 16^th American President was a self-educated lawyer

Abraham Lincoln, just like Mark Twain and George Washington, had very little formal education. This did not stop his quest for knowledge.

Lincoln developed a keen interest in books and learning. He taught himself from the books he borrowed.

After his family moved to Illinois, he became independent. While serving in the Illinois State Legislature, he studied law and later worked as a lawyer.

Lincoln ran for the US Congress in 1845 and won. He served in Congress for one term. He never made it to the senate but as popular.

5. Abraham Lincoln first ran for office at 23

Nicholas H. Shepherd – Wikimedia

when he was 23, Lincoln announced his candidacy for the Illinois General Assembly. His lack of formal education did not stop him.

He was self-taught and was popular he was popular among the people of his county.

While campaigning, he promised to improve the navigation situation at Sangamon River.

Lincoln did not win the election; he, however, came in eight out of thirteen candidates. He also won the vast majority of votes from the county which he was popular.

6. His wife’s family were slave owners

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Although Lincoln opposed slavery, he married Mary Todd of Lexington Kentucky. Her family was known to own slaves.

Lincoln did not believe that white and black people had equal civil and political rights.

He also opposed extending the right to vote to black people, the rights to serve on juries, hold political office, as well as marry white people.

Lincoln called off his engagement to Mary Todd but agreed to marry her a year later. The idea of marriage made him anxious.

7. Abraham Lincoln almost didn’t go to the theatre on the day of his assassination

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On the night of his assassination, it is said that Lincoln was to miss the play. He only felt compelled to go after general Grant cancelled.

His attempts to get the House Speaker, Schuyler Colfax, to tag along failed too. John Parker, Lincoln’s bodyguard took a break from his position and went to get a drink.

With no one on guard and the theatre breaking in a burst of thunderous laughter, Booth shot Lincoln at close range. The president died a day later while receiving treatment.

8. He might have suffered from clinical depression

People close to Abraham Lincoln believed that he suffered from depression and would occasionally keep a close eye on him.

Lincoln was said to have all the three major stages of depression which are fear, engagement and transcendence.

When he was young, he talked of suicide more than once and his view of the world was grim.

9. He is credited with celebrating the first Thanksgiving

Photo by Claudio Schwarz – Unsplash

Abraham Lincoln first celebrated Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, amidst the American Civil War.

He did this with the hopes of uniting the country that was torn by war. This day was to be marked on the last Thursday in November.

In 1885, an act by Congress made Thanksgiving a paid holiday for all federal workers throughout the United States.

10. Abraham Lincoln was not the only prominent person to be attacked on the night of his assassination

On the fateful night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s theatre, another American politician got attacked.

Lewis Powell, another assassin, stabbed the Secretary of State William Seward repeatedly while he slept in his bedroom. Luckily, he survived.

Another member of the Lincoln administration that almost got attacked was Andrew Johnson, the Vice President.

The assassins were killed.