Seen by many historians as the greatest President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln made some very famous speeches. His thoughtful manner, views on slavery and equality and his commitment to honesty and perseverance make many of his quotations from his speeches as relevant today as they were nearly 200 years ago. Abraham Lincoln was and is considered by many to be one of the most eloquent speakers ever.

The Lyceum address, given in 1838 is one of Abraham’s earliest recorded speeches. In this address he gives a hint of his attitude toward government. Abraham Lincoln’s “A House Divided” speech (June 16, 1858) is a landmark in his political career. This is the speech he made at the beginning of his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Among other things Abraham Lincoln was a patent holder. Abraham made a stirring speech in a series of lectures on discoveries and inventions.

In 1859 an Abraham speech delivered to the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society shows his dedication to reading and education – “A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the [yet] unsolved ones.”

In his first inaugural address in 1861 Abraham Lincoln appeals to his “dissatisfied fellow countrymen” to avoid war and support the Union of the States.

The Gettysburg Address is noted as perhaps the finest Abraham speech made. Around 2 minutes long, it is succinct and powerful. Most people would consider this perhaps the number one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches to read. The Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1, 1863) was also one of the most famous moves by Abraham Lincoln, granting freedom to slaves: “And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.”

Of all the Abraham speeches his second inaugural speech was his own favourite. In this speech he shows a great depth of understanding of both politics and theology.

The last speech Abraham Lincoln made on April 11 1865 is believed to have prompted John Wilkes Booth to an act of assassination rather than his previously considered kidnapping.