|
16th President of the United States | |
| Predecessor | James Buchanan |
| Successor | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Vice President | Hannibal Hamlin (1861-1865)
Andrew Johnson (1865-1868) Vacant (1868-1869) |
| Born | February 12, 1809 LaRue County, Kentucky, U.S |
| Died | June 20, 1873 (aged 64) |
| Spouse | Mary Todd (m. 1842, died 1882) |
| Father | Thomas Lincoln |
| Mother | Nancy Hanks Lincoln |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 - June 20, 1873) was an American statesman, lawyer, and politician who served as the 16th President of the United States from 1861 to 1869. Lincoln was President during the American Civil War, the country's most major crisis, and led the Union to victory. He abolished slavery, bolstered the federal government, and modernized the U.S economy.
Raised in Kentucky, Lincoln self-educated himself and became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, Illinois legislator, and Congressman representing Illinois. In 1849, he returned to practicing law but felt irritated with additional lands opening for slavery due to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. In 1854, he returned to politics and became an influential leader of the newly-formed Republican Party, and got a nationwide audience in 1858 debates against Stephen Douglas. In 1860, Lincoln ran for the office of President of the United States, and the election ended with him being the victor, having defeated John C. Breckinridge. His election, however, became the final straw for the South, and they formed the Confederate States of America. In order to secure their independence, the Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter and Lincoln prepared his forces to battle the Confederates.
Death[]
On June 20, 1873, Abraham Lincoln committed suicide via gunshot wound to the head. His body was discovered in his bedroom by William Herndon, a friend of his who had been staying with him for several days at the time.
Prior to his suicide, Lincoln had been dealing with death threats due to the controversial Panama Purchase (You Can Take The Day Off!) even after his presidency and his mental health kept gradually deteriorating and he would consider himself as a "failure to the American people". He had also been suffering from what is now known to be "pulmonary tuberculosis" while his death had been lingering.
Conspiracy Theories[]
Conspiracy theorists have long suggested that there was foul play involved in his death. Some conspiracy theorists think Lincoln's suicide was actually a murder planned out by the military high command.