Abraham Lincoln

Born in the family of a Kentucky farmer; moved with his parents to a tract on Little Pigeon Creek, Indiana, in 1816; attended a log-cabin school at short intervals and was self-instructed in elementary branches; moved with his father to Macon County, Illinois, in 1830 and later to Coles County, Illinois; read the principles of law and works on surveying; during the Black Hawk War volunteered in a company of Sangamon County Rifles in 1832; was elected its captain and served until the company was mustered out of service; reenlisted as a private and served until mustered out 16 Jun 1832; returned to New Salem, Illinois, and was unsuccessful as a candidate for the State House of Representatives; entered business as a general merchant in New Salem; postmaster of New Salem (1833-1836); deputy county surveyor (1834-1836); elected a member of the State House of Representatives in 1834, 1836, 1838, and 1840; declined to be a candidate for renomination; admitted to the bar in 1836; moved to Springfield, Illinois, in 1837 and engaged in the practice of law; elected as a Whig to the 30th Congress (4 Mar 1847 - 3 Mar 1849); did not seek a renomination in 1848; an unsuccessful applicant for Commissioner of the General Land Office under President Zachary Taylor; tendered the Governorship of Oregon Territory, but declined; unsuccessful Whig candidate for election to the US Senate before the legislature of 1855; unsuccessful Republican candidate for the US Senate in 1858; elected as a Republican President of the United States in 1860; principal war leader during the Civil War between the federal government of the United States and 11 Southern states (1861-1865); issued Emancipation Proclamations (22 Sep 1862 and 1 Jan 1863), bringing freedom to a large part of the Negro slaves; reelected President in 1864; shot by an assassin in Washington, D.C., 14 April 1865, and died the following day. [1]