Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is widely considered one of America's greatest leaders, and is remembered for his leadership during the American Civil War, as well as his efforts to abolish slavery.
Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky and raised in a poor family. He was largely self-taught and became a lawyer, serving in the Illinois state legislature and later in the U.S. House of Representatives. He gained national prominence during a series of debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, which helped to establish his reputation as a skilled orator and a forceful opponent of slavery.
In 1860, Lincoln was elected president as the candidate of the newly formed Republican Party. His election sparked the secession of several Southern states, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Lincoln presided over the Union's victory in the war, which ended in 1865 with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
During his presidency, Lincoln also issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. He also delivered several famous speeches, including the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address, which called for healing and reconciliation between North and South.
Lincoln's life and legacy have been the subject of numerous books, films, and other works of art. He is widely regarded as one of America's greatest presidents, and his leadership during a time of great crisis continues to inspire people around the world.