A Timeline of Significant Events in the Life of Abraham Lincoln

A Timeline of Significant Events in the Life of Abraham LincolnFebruary 12, 1809April-July, 1831September 1831March 9, 1832January 15, 1833March 7, 1833August 4, 1834February 24, 1837April 15, 1837November 4, 1842August 1, 1843January 16, 1844March 10, 1846August 3, 1846February 1, 1850Abraham Lincoln is born in Hardin County, Kentucky.Lincoln pilots a flatboat to New Orleans for Denton Offutt andreturns to New Salem, 18 miles northwest of Springfield.Lincoln clerks in Denton Offutt’s store in New Salem.Lincoln becomes a legislature candidate.Lincoln and William F. Berry purchase a store in New Salem.President Jackson appoints Lincoln as New Salem postmaster.Lincoln wins his second bid for election to the Illinois House ofRepresentatives.Lincoln and eight friends are successful in passing a bill tomove the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield.Lincoln moves to Springfield, rooms with Joshua F. Speed, andbecomes the law partner of John T. Stuart.Lincoln and Mary Todd are married by the Rev. Charles Dresserin the home of her brother-in-law Ninian W. Edwards,.Robert Todd Lincoln, the Lincoln’s first child, is born at theGlobe Tavern.The Lincoln’s purchase a home from Reverend Dresser forthe price of $1,200.00.The Lincoln’s second child, Edward Baker, is born.With an unprecedented majority of 1,511 votes over hisDemocratic opponent Rev. Peter Cartwright, Lincoln is theonly Whig among seven congressmen elected from Illinois.Edward Baker Lincoln dies after a 52-day illness.-more-

Page 2Lincoln TimelineDecember 21, 1850April 4, 1853Spring 1856June 16, 1858November 2, 1858May 18, 1860November 6, 1860February 11, 1861March 4, 1861February 20, 1862April 14, 1865April 15, 1865May 3, 1865May 4, 1865Lincoln’s third son, William Wallace (Willie), is born.Thomas (Tad), the Lincoln’s fourth son, is born.Contractors Hannan and Ragsdale enlarge the Lincoln’s familyhome from one and half stories to two full stories at a cost of$1,300.00.Lincoln is chosen by Illinois Republicans to run for the U.S.Senate. In accepting, Lincoln gives his “House Divided” speech.Although Lincoln gets a majority of the votes in the election,Stephen Douglas is re-elected because of gerrymanderedlegislative districts.Lincoln is nominated for President on the third ballot by theRepublican National Convention in Chicago.Lincoln becomes the first Republican to be elected President ofthe United States.President-elect Lincoln delivers his farewell speech to the peopleof Springfield from the rear of a train car at the Great WesternRailroad Station.Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States.William (Willie) Wallace Lincoln dies. He is the second sonthe Lincolns have lost.Actor John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln in Ford’s Theatre.Abraham Lincoln is pronounced dead at 7:22 a.m. in the home ofWilliam Petersen.The funeral train reaches its destination in Springfield at 9:00 a.m.The body is escorted to the Illinois State Capitol building.Lincoln is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield.###Source: Highlights from the Illinois State Historical Library’s “Abraham Lincoln Chronology” 1990