Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky (now LaRue County).¹⁾

He was largely self-educated and had only about 18 months of formal schooling throughout his life.²⁾

Lincoln worked various jobs, including a rail-splitter, store clerk, and postmaster, before entering politics.³⁾

His nickname “Honest Abe” originated from his reputation for integrity and honesty in business dealings.⁴⁾

Lincoln served in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834 to 1842.⁵⁾

He had a wrestling career and was only defeated once in approximately 300 matches.⁶⁾

In 1842, Lincoln married Mary Todd, and they had four sons: Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas.⁷⁾

Lincoln's son, Willie, died of typhoid fever at the age of 11 while Lincoln was in office.⁸⁾

Abraham Lincoln was a self-taught lawyer and gained a reputation as an effective and eloquent courtroom speaker.⁹⁾

Lincoln served as a one-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849.¹⁰⁾

He opposed the Mexican-American War and introduced the “Spot Resolutions” to challenge President James K. Polk's justification for the war.¹¹⁾

Lincoln's debates with Stephen A. Douglas during the 1858 Illinois Senate race brought him national attention.¹²⁾

The Lincoln-Douglas debates focused on the issue of slavery, with Lincoln expressing anti-slavery sentiments.¹³⁾

Lincoln was a member of the newly-formed Republican Party and ran as its candidate in the 1860 presidential election.¹⁴⁾

He won the presidency in 1860 with a significant electoral majority but without a single Southern electoral vote.¹⁵⁾

Lincoln was the first Republican president of the United States.¹⁶⁾

His election in 1860 led to the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.¹⁷⁾

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered in 1863, is considered one of the greatest speeches in American history.¹⁸⁾

He signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free.¹⁹⁾

Lincoln faced criticism from both sides during the Civil War for being too aggressive or too cautious in his approach.²⁰⁾

He had a complex relationship with his generals, including clashes with George McClellan and later appreciation for Ulysses S. Grant.²¹⁾

Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, setting the date as the last Thursday in November.²²⁾

The Homestead Act, signed by Lincoln in 1862, provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward expansion.²³⁾

Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, which facilitated the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad.²⁴⁾

The National Banking Act of 1863 and the creation of a national currency helped modernize the U.S. banking system.²⁵⁾

Lincoln's pocket watch, made by George Chatterton, was engraved with the words “To A. Lincoln, from the Citizens of New York” and was later displayed at the Smithsonian.²⁶⁾

He was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration in 1861.²⁷⁾

Lincoln is the only U.S. president to have obtained a patent. In 1849, he patented a device for lifting boats over shoals and obstructions in a river.²⁸⁾

He was known for his wit and humor, often using anecdotes to make political points.²⁹⁾

Lincoln's height was around 6 feet 4 inches, making him the tallest U.S. president in history.³⁰⁾

He was the first president to be assassinated. John Wilkes Booth shot him at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, and he died the following day.³¹⁾

Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer.³²⁾

Lincoln's bodyguard, John Frederick Parker, left his post at Ford's Theatre during the play Our American Cousin, giving Booth the opportunity to enter the president's box.³³⁾

Lincoln's funeral train traveled over 1,600 miles through seven states, allowing millions to pay their respects.³⁴⁾

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 1922 and features a seated statue of Lincoln.³⁵⁾

The face on the U.S. five-dollar bill and the penny is that of Abraham Lincoln.³⁶⁾

Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was present at three presidential assassinations: his father's, Garfield's, and McKinley's.³⁷⁾

The term “Uncle Sam” is believed to have originated during the War of 1812, but it gained popularity during the Civil War, and the image is said to resemble Abraham Lincoln.³⁸⁾

Lincoln's famous stovepipe hat was more than a fashion statement; it served as a makeshift filing cabinet for important documents.³⁹⁾

Lincoln was known for his empathy and compassion, and he often pardoned soldiers sentenced to death for desertion during the Civil War.⁴⁰⁾

The state of Illinois is known as the “Land of Lincoln” and features the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.⁴¹⁾

Lincoln was posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992.⁴²⁾

The town of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Lincoln County, Wyoming, are named in honor of the 16th president.⁴³⁾

A bust of Abraham Lincoln, sculpted by Gutzon Borglum (who later carved Mount Rushmore), is displayed in the U.S. Capitol.⁴⁴⁾

Lincoln's legacy is celebrated annually on Presidents' Day, observed on the third Monday of February.⁴⁵⁾