Fascinating Facts About Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.
Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky.
As a child, Lincoln had to work hard on his family farm to support his family.
Lincoln only had about 18 months of formal education, but he was an avid reader and self-taught.
He worked as a lawyer, specializing in cases involving railroads and corporate matters.
Lincoln was known for his tall stature, standing at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) tall.
He grew a beard after an 11-year-old girl suggested he would look better with one.
Lincoln was the first President to have a beard.
He was nicknamed Honest Abe because of his reputation for honesty and integrity.
Lincoln was an eloquent speaker and delivered the famous Gettysburg Address.
He was a skilled wrestler and only lost one match out of approximately 300.
Lincoln was the first Republican Party candidate to be elected President.
He signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for slaves in Confederate-held territories during the Civil War.
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
He is the first President to be assassinated.
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to his memory.
Lincoln’s face is depicted on the U.S. penny (one cent) and was previously on the $5 bill.
He was the first President to be photographed at his inauguration.
Fascinating Facts About Abraham Lincoln part 2
Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was known for her controversial personality and extravagant spending.
He had four sons, but only one, Robert Todd Lincoln, lived to adulthood.
Lincoln was a Whig Party member before joining the Republican Party.
He was a talented storyteller and often entertained guests with his humorous tales.
Lincoln was an animal lover and had a pet turkey named Jack that he spared from becoming Thanksgiving dinner.
He used a rocking chair instead of an executive desk in the Oval Office.
Lincoln suffered from melancholia and depression throughout his life.
He was an advocate for women’s rights and believed in equal opportunities for all.
Lincoln is the tallest U.S. President to date.
He was a voracious reader and loved Shakespeare’s works.
Lincoln had a dream about his own assassination ten days before it happened.
He was called the Rail Splitter because he worked splitting rails as a young man.
Lincoln was a skilled horseman and enjoyed riding.
He pardoned many soldiers who were condemned to death during the Civil War.
Lincoln carried important documents in his tall black hat.
He used humor as a coping mechanism during difficult times.
Lincoln was a freemason and belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Springfield, Illinois.
He fought against the expansion of slavery into new territories.
Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War to deal with rebellion sympathizers.
He established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863.
Lincoln’s death greatly impacted the nation, leading to widespread mourning and national unity.
He was the first President to be embalmed after his death.
Lincoln’s face is also carved on Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt.
He had a great interest in technology and was fascinated by inventions like telegraph and steam engines.
Lincoln delivered his Cooper Union speech in New York City, which helped him gain support for his candidacy for President.
He proposed the idea of using postage stamps and the first U.S. federal income tax.
Lincoln’s life has been portrayed in numerous films, including the critically acclaimed Lincoln directed by Steven Spielberg.