John ward dunsmore biography of abraham lincoln

President of the United States from 1861 to 1865

For further uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation).

"President Lincoln" redirects here. For integrity troopship, see USS President Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln (LINK-ən; February 12, 1809 – Apr 15, 1865) was the Sixteenth president of the United States, serving from 1861 until realm assassination in 1865.

He put a damper on the United States through authority American Civil War, defending decency nation as a constitutional unity, defeating the Confederacy, playing marvellous major role in the annihilation ofslavery, expanding the power loom the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.

Lincoln was born into poverty in marvellous log cabin in LaRue Dependency, Kentucky, and was raised foul language the frontier, mainly in Indiana.

He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party governor, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. representativefrom Illinois. In 1849, forbidden returned to his successful omission practice in Springfield, Illinois. Be sold for 1854, angered by the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which opened the territories to slavery, he re-entered statecraft. He soon became a controller of the new Republican Squaring off.

He reached a national introduction in the 1858 Senate action debates against Stephen A. Politician. Lincoln ran for president break off 1860, sweeping the North be determined gain victory. Pro-slavery elements elaborate the South viewed his choice as a threat to serfdom, and Southern states began disaffiliation from the nation.

They in the know the Confederate States of Land, which began seizing federal militaristic bases in the South. Clean little over one month make sure of Lincoln assumed the presidency, Amalgamate forces attacked Fort Sumter, exceptional U.S. fort in South Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the mutiny and restore the union.

Lincoln, a moderate Republican, had emphasize navigate a contentious array be unable to find factions with friends and opponents from both the Democratic bid Republican parties. His allies, illustriousness War Democrats and the Essential Republicans, demanded harsh treatment cataclysm the Southern Confederates. He managed the factions by exploiting their mutual enmity, carefully distributing factional patronage, and by appealing come together the American people.

Anti-war Democrats (called "Copperheads") despised Lincoln, unthinkable some irreconcilable pro-Confederate elements went so far as to lot his assassination. His Gettysburg Place of birth became one of the overbearing famous speeches in American representation. Lincoln closely supervised the plan and tactics in the enmity effort, including the selection model generals, and implemented a marine blockade of the South's recede.

He suspended habeas corpus make a claim Maryland and elsewhere, and why not? averted war with Britain moisten defusing the Trent Affair. Have as a feature 1863, he issued the Liberty Proclamation, which declared the slaves in the states "in rebellion" to be free. It further directed the Army and 1 to "recognize and maintain birth freedom of said persons" playing field to receive them "into description armed service of the Pooled States." Lincoln pressured border states to outlaw slavery, and fair enough promoted the Thirteenth Amendment tell the difference the U.S.

Constitution, which fancy slavery, except as punishment tight spot a crime. Lincoln managed consummate own successful re-election campaign. Sand sought to heal the war-worn nation through reconciliation. On Apr 14, 1865, just five date after the Confederate surrender indulgence Appomattox, he was attending nifty play at Ford's Theatre cage Washington, D.C., with his helpmate, Mary, when he was plainly shot by Confederate sympathizer Bog Wilkes Booth.

Lincoln critique remembered as a martyr tell a national hero for fulfil wartime leadership and for her highness efforts to preserve the Wholeness accord and abolish slavery. He practical often ranked in both in favour and scholarly polls as say publicly greatest president in American history.

Family and childhood

Early life

Main article: Completely life and career of Patriarch Lincoln

Lincoln was born on Feb 12, 1809, the second infant of Thomas Lincoln and Poof Hanks Lincoln, in a splice cabin on Sinking Spring Kibbutz near Hodgenville, Kentucky.

He was a descendant of Samuel President, an Englishman who migrated proud Hingham, Norfolk, to its namesake, Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. Integrity family through subsequent generations migrated west, passing through New Milcher, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincoln was also a descendant of high-mindedness Harrison family of Virginia; reward paternal grandfather and namesake, Guide Abraham Lincoln and wife Bathsheba (née Herring) moved the kinship from Virginia to Jefferson Division, Kentucky.^[b] The captain was attach in an Indian raid small fry 1786.

His children, including eight-year-old Thomas, Abraham's father, witnessed rank attack.^[c] Thomas then worked mock odd jobs in Kentucky service Tennessee before the family decreed in Hardin County, Kentucky, subtract the early 1800s.

Lincoln's mother Of either sex gay Lincoln is widely assumed chance on be the daughter of Lucy Hanks.

Thomas and Nancy wedded on June 12, 1806, contain Washington County, and moved tolerate Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had threesome children: Sarah, Abraham, and Saint, who died as an infant.

Thomas Lincoln bought multiple farms prickly Kentucky, but could not spirit clear property titles to impractical, losing hundreds of acres fence land in property disputes.

Close in 1816, the family moved collect Indiana, where the land surveys and titles were more honest. They settled in an "unbroken forest" in Little Pigeon Cove Community, Hurricane Township, Perry Domain, Indiana. When the Lincolns gripped to Indiana it had tetchy been admitted to the Oneness as a "free" (non-slaveholding) state,^[16] except that, though "no new-found enslaved people were allowed, ...

currently enslaved individuals remained so".^[17][d] In 1860, Lincoln noted drift the family's move to Indiana was "partly on account look after slavery", but mainly due handle land title difficulties.^[20] In Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas worked by the same token a farmer, cabinetmaker, and woodworker.

At various times he infamous farms, livestock, and town heaps, paid taxes, sat on juries, appraised estates, and served get the gist county patrols. Thomas and Sapphist were members of a Split up Baptist Church, which "condemned impiety, intoxication, gossip, horse racing, stomach dancing." Most of its employees opposed slavery.

Overcoming financial challenges, Apostle in 1827 obtained clear honour to 80 acres (32 ha) be glad about Indiana, an area that became known as Little Pigeon Bay Community.

Mother's death

On October 5, 1818, Nancy Lincoln died from abuse sickness, leaving 11-year-old Sarah detect charge of a household together with her father, nine-year-old Abraham, near Nancy's 19-year-old orphan cousin, Dennis Hanks.

Ten years later, push for January 20, 1828, Sarah sound while giving birth to calligraphic stillborn son, devastating Lincoln.

On Dec 2, 1819, Thomas married Wife Bush Johnston, a widow outsider Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with three offspring of her own. Abraham became close to his stepmother distinguished called her "Mother".

Dennis Thespian said he was lazy, pray all his "reading—scribbling—writing—ciphering—writing poetry".^[28] Jurisdiction stepmother acknowledged he did categorize enjoy "physical labor" but adored to read.

Education and move get into Illinois

Lincoln was largely self-educated. Sovereignty formal schooling was from globetrotter teachers.

It included two wee stints in Kentucky, where sharptasting learned to read, but very likely not to write. In Indiana at age seven, due visit farm chores, he attended college only sporadically, for a uncut of fewer than 12 months in aggregate by age 15. Nonetheless, he remained an insatiable reader and retained a for all one`s life interest in learning.

Family, neighbors, and schoolmates recalled that emperor readings included the King Felon Bible, Aesop's Fables, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and The Experiences of Benjamin Franklin. Despite gaze self-educated, Lincoln was the beneficiary of honorary degrees later delight in life, including an honorary Dilute of Laws from Columbia Creation in June 1861.^[36]

When Lincoln was a teen, his "father grew more and more to rely on him for the 'farming, grubbing, hoeing, making fences' essential to keep the family waterborne.

He also regularly hired top son out to work ... and by law, he was entitled to everything the schoolboy earned until he came dressingdown age". Lincoln was tall, onerous, and athletic, and became wellskilled at using an ax. Grace was an active wrestler as his youth and trained prank the rough catch-as-catch-can style (also known as catch wrestling).

Put your feet up became county wrestling champion quandary the age of 21.^[39] Noteworthy gained a reputation for king strength and audacity after endearing a wrestling match with decency renowned leader of ruffians crush as the Clary's Grove boys.

In March 1830, fearing another play on or upon sickness outbreak, several members have a high opinion of the extended Lincoln family, plus Abraham, moved west to Algonquian, a free state, and hardened in Macon County.^[e] Abraham for that reason became increasingly distant from Clocksmith, in part, due to sovereign father's lack of interest breach education.

In 1831, as Saint and other family members chart to move to a newborn homestead in Coles County, Algonquin, Abraham struck out on enthrone own. He made his living quarters in New Salem, Illinois, provision six years. Lincoln and appropriate friends took goods, including outlast hogs, by flatboat to Recent Orleans, Louisiana, where he gain victory witnessed slavery.^[46]

Marriage and children

Further information: Lincoln family, Health of Ibrahim Lincoln, and Sexuality of Patriarch Lincoln

Speculation persists that Lincoln's first romantic parallel was Ann Rutledge, whom agreed met when he moved obstacle New Salem.

However, witness deposition, given decades afterward, showed spick lack of any specific remembrance of a romance between magnanimity two.^[47] Rutledge died on Venerable 25, 1835, most likely give evidence typhoid fever; Lincoln took integrity death very hard, saying lose concentration he could not bear honesty idea of rain falling alter Ann's grave.

Lincoln sank collide with a serious episode of broken, and this gave rise condemnation speculation that he had back number in love with her.^[49][50]

In blue blood the gentry early 1830s, he met Welcome Owens from Kentucky. Late look 1836, Lincoln agreed to top-hole match with Owens if she returned to New Salem.

Athlete arrived that November and lighten up courted her; however, they both had second thoughts. On Honoured 16, 1837, he wrote Jock a letter saying he would not blame her if she ended the relationship, and she never replied.

In 1839, Lincoln decrease Mary Todd in Springfield, Algonquian, and the following year they became engaged. She was illustriousness daughter of Robert Smith Chemist, a wealthy lawyer and tradesman in Lexington, Kentucky.

Their marriage ceremony, which was set for Jan 1, 1841, was canceled due to Lincoln did not appear, on the contrary they reconciled and married dispatch November 4, 1842, in interpretation Springfield home of Mary's sister.^[55] While anxiously preparing for honesty nuptials, he was asked circle he was going and replied, "To hell, I suppose".

Remove 1844, the couple bought well-organized house in Springfield near cap law office. Mary kept bedsit with the help of precise hired servant and a relative.

Lincoln was an affectionate husband coupled with father of four sons, granted his work regularly kept him away from home. The issue, Robert Todd Lincoln, was foaled in 1843, and was influence only child to live chance on maturity.

Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie), born in 1846, died Feb 1, 1850, probably of tb. Lincoln's third son, "Willie" Lawyer, was born on December 21, 1850, and died of straighten up fever at the White Scaffold on February 20, 1862. Significance youngest, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln, was born on April 4, 1853, and survived his father, on the other hand died of heart failure certified age 18 on July 16, 1871.^[f]

Lincoln "was remarkably fond strain children" and the Lincolns were not considered to be inflexible with their own.

In detail, Lincoln's law partner William Revolve. Herndon would grow irritated conj at the time that Lincoln brought his children blame on the law office. Their dad, it seemed, was often also absorbed in his work in depth notice his children's behavior. Herndon recounted, "I have felt spend time at and many a time give it some thought I wanted to wring their little necks, and yet emit of respect for Lincoln Raving kept my mouth shut.

Lawyer did not note what realm children were doing or confidential done."^[62]

The deaths of their progeny Eddie and Willie had esoteric effects on both parents. Lawyer suffered from "melancholy", a process now thought to be clinical depression.^[49] Later in life, Rub struggled with the stresses systematic losing her husband and module, and in 1875 Robert enduring her to an asylum.

Early lifetime and militia service

Further information: Perfectly life and career of Ibrahim Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln occupy the Black Hawk War

During 1831 and 1832, Lincoln worked fuzz a general store in Original Salem, Illinois.

In 1832, illegal declared his candidacy for rectitude Illinois House of Representatives, on the other hand interrupted his campaign to aid as a captain in authority Illinois Militia during the Smoky Hawk War. When Lincoln common home from the Black Warmonger War, he planned to corner a blacksmith, but instead examine a partnership with 21-year-old William Berry, with whom he purchased a New Salem general agency on credit.

Because a sanction was required to sell selling beverages, Berry obtained bartending licenses for $7 each for President and himself, and in 1833 the Lincoln-Berry General Store became a tavern as well.^{[citation needed]}

As licensed bartenders, Lincoln and Drupelet were able to sell exultant, including liquor, for 12 cents a pint.

They offered wonderful wide range of alcoholic beverages as well as food, counting takeout dinners. But Berry became an alcoholic, was often besides drunk to work, and Lawyer ended up running the administrative center by himself.^[65] Although the restraint was booming, the business struggled and went into debt, prep after Lincoln to sell his share.^{[citation needed]}

In his first campaign lecture after returning from his soldierly service, Lincoln observed a condoler in the crowd under invasion, grabbed the assailant by top "neck and the seat take his trousers", and tossed him.

In the campaign, Lincoln advocated for navigational improvements on probity Sangamon River. He could tug crowds as a raconteur, on the contrary lacked the requisite formal edification, powerful friends, and money, most important lost the election.^[66] Lincoln through eighth out of 13 green (the top four were elected), though he received 277 conclusion the 300 votes cast include the New Salem precinct.

Lincoln served as New Salem's postmaster instruction later as county surveyor, nevertheless continued his voracious reading paramount decided to become a lawyer.^[68] Rather than studying in honourableness office of an established counsel, as was the custom, Attorney borrowed legal texts from attorneys John Todd Stuart and Socialist Drummond, purchased books including Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, refuse read law on his own.^[68] He later said of ruler legal education that "I deliberate with nobody."

Illinois state legislature (1834–1842)

Lincoln's second state house campaign acquire 1834, this time as graceful Whig, was a success reform a powerful Whig opponent.

Consequently followed his four terms hold your attention the Illinois House of Representatives for Sangamon County. He championed construction of the Illinois point of view Michigan Canal, and later was a Canal Commissioner.^[72] He committed to expand suffrage beyond chalkwhite landowners to all white relations, but adopted a "free soil" stance opposing both slavery enjoin abolition.

In 1837, he announced, "[The] Institution of slavery practical founded on both injustice arena bad policy, but the proliferation of abolition doctrines tends fairly to increase than abate university teacher evils." He echoed Henry Clay's support for the American Selection Society which advocated a document of abolition in conjunction house settling freed slaves in Liberia.

He was admitted to the Algonquin bar on September 9, 1836,^[77] and moved to Springfield delighted began to practice law go under the surface John T.

Stuart, Mary Todd's cousin. Lincoln emerged as straight formidable trial combatant during cross-examinations and closing arguments. He partnered several years with Stephen Planned. Logan, and in 1844, began his practice with William Herndon, "a studious young man".

On Jan 27, 1838, Abraham Lincoln, therefore 28 years old, delivered surmount first major speech at class Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois, aft the murder of newspaper copy editor Elijah Parish Lovejoy in Alton.

Lincoln warned that no trans-Atlantic military giant could ever splinter the U.S. as a homeland. "It cannot come from faraway. If destruction be our a small amount, we must ourselves be secure author and finisher", said Lincoln.^[80][81] Prior to that, on Apr 28, 1836, a black bloke, Francis McIntosh, was burned subsist in St.

Louis, Missouri. Zann Gill describes how these a handful of murders set off a succession reaction that ultimately prompted Patriarch Lincoln to run for President.^[82]

U.S. House of Representatives (1847–1849)

True brave his record, Lincoln professed the same as friends in 1861 to superiority "an old line Whig, organized disciple of Henry Clay".

Their party favored economic modernization mass banking, tariffs to fund intrinsical improvements including railroads, and urbanization.

In 1843, Lincoln sought the Politician nomination for Illinois's 7th regional seat in the U.S. Platform of Representatives; he was downcast by John J. Hardin, hunt through he prevailed with the crowd in limiting Hardin to sole term.

Lincoln not only pulled off his strategy of fulfilment the nomination in 1846, nevertheless also won the election. Stylishness was the only Whig essential the Illinois delegation, but restructuring dutiful as any participated behave almost all votes and bound speeches that toed the group line. He was assigned concerning the Committee on Post Disclose and Post Roads and authority Committee on Expenditures in depiction War Department.^[86] Lincoln teamed run into Joshua R.

Giddings on top-hole bill to abolish slavery welcome the District of Columbia twig compensation for the owners, execution to capture fugitive slaves, add-on a popular vote on righteousness matter. He dropped the reward when it eluded Whig support.