Just who was Abraham Lincoln? There is a wealth of information to be found about Abraham Lincoln’s accomplishments. As the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln is considered to be in the top three Presidents in history, along with George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican to be elected as President and the first President to be assassinated.
As with any great ‘legend’, separating Abraham facts from stories can sometimes become a little hazy. In any Abraham biography though there are dates, and facts that remain the same. There are for example several different versions of how he earned the nickname Honest Abe. Legend surrounds Abraham Lincoln’s hat too, though it is generally accepted that the incident of his hat being shot at was indeed true and possibly an early assassination attempt. It is also generally believed that the tall stovepipe hat he wore was perhaps not as tall as made out to be (Abraham Lincoln’s hat size was 7 1/8). Another story surrounds a hat that supposedly belonged to Abraham and was captured by Captured by Lt. Gary Griffiths at the Battle of Bullrun.
How many of these stories are fact, or partially factual may be debatable but the writings and correspondence of Abraham Linconl and the events of history remain the same. In any Abraham bio though many people are looking not just at the events of history but what made the man himself so special.
Abraham was the son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. He was born on February 12 1809. Thomas Lincoln was a farmer and named his son after his paternal grandfather. There is no mystery to Abraham Lincoln’s middle name. He didn’t have one. In Abraham’s life he only had about 18 months of formal schooling, but he loved to read and so largely educated himself.
His education took him on to become a lawyer and his ‘honest Abe’ character carried through in this career. Most people writing an Abraham bio are in agreement that he won the name in his early life when he accidentally overcharged someone and walked for miles to right the wrong. Others believe he earned the nickname from overcoming a local bully, and still others that the nickname was earned by his honest overseeing of cock fights. Whichever event in Abraham’s life earned him the nickname there is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln was indeed an honest man with strong beliefs.
Honest Abe was also a man who did like killing animals and was passionate about the abolition of slavery. His beliefs and self-confidence (although he was self- confident it is also believed that Abraham Linc oln suffered from clinical depression largely due to the deaths of his children) led him eventually into politics and to lead the country in the civil war.
Abraham Lincoln’s accomplishments were many, and his famous speeches and ideals live on in history. Less than a week after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant and the civil war was ended, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14 1865.