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Samuel Lincoln from Hingham, England, settles in Hingham, Massachusetts.
1637 - Samuel Lincoln from Hingham, England, settles in Hingham, Massachusetts. -
Thomas and family move to Kentucky.
1782 - Thomas and family move to Kentucky. -
Abraham Lincoln is born in a one-room log cabin on Nolin Creek in Kentucky
February 12, 1809 - Abraham Lincoln is born in a one-room log cabin on Nolin Creek in Kentucky -
In spring, the Lincoln family moves to a 230-acre farm on Knob Creek ten miles from Sinking Spring.
1811 - In spring, the Lincoln family moves to a 230-acre farm on Knob Creek ten miles from Sinking Spring. -
In March, Abe and his family begin a 200-mile journey
1830 - In March, Abe and his family begin a 200-mile journey to Illinois where they settle on uncleared land along the Sangamon River, near Decatur. Abe makes his first-ever political speech in favor of improving navigation on the Sangamon River. -
elected to the Illinois General Assembly as a member of the Whig Party.
1834 - On August 4th, Abraham Lincoln, age 24, is elected to the Illinois General Assembly as a member of the Whig Party. He begins to study law. In December, he first meets Stephen A. Douglas, 21, a Democrat. -
Lincoln is re-elected to the Illinois General Assembly
1836 - On August 1st, Lincoln is re-elected to the Illinois General Assembly and by now is a leader of the Whig Party. September 9th, Lincoln receives his license to practice Law. He begins a courtship of Mary Owens, 28. He suffers an episode of severe depression in December. -
In June, Lincoln argues his first case before the Illinois Supreme Court
1840 - In June, Lincoln argues his first case before the Illinois Supreme Court. On August 3rd, he is re-elected to the Illinois General Assembly. In autumn, he becomes engaged to Mary Todd. -
U.S. Representative Lincoln moves into a boarding house in Washington, D.C
1847 - U.S. Representative Lincoln moves into a boarding house in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two sons. On December 6th, he takes his seat when the Thirtieth Congress convenes. December 22nd, Rep. Lincoln presents resolutions questioning President Polk about U.S. hostilities with Mexico. -
Lincoln helps organize the new Republican Party of Illinois.
1856 - May 29th, Lincoln helps organize the new Republican Party of Illinois. At the first Republican convention, Lincoln gets 110 votes for the vice-presidential nomination, thereby gaining national attention. He campaigns in Illinois for the Republican presidential candidate, John C. Frémont. -
Abraham Lincoln is nominated to be the Republican candidate for President of the United States
May 18, 1860 - Abraham Lincoln is nominated to be the Republican candidate for President of the United States. He opposes Northern Democrat, Stephen A. Douglas, and Southern Democrat, John C. Breckinridge. -
Abraham Lincoln is elected as 16th President of the United State
November 6, 1860 - Abraham Lincoln is elected as 16th President of the United States, and is the first Republican. He receives 180 of 303 possible electoral votes and 40 percent of the popular vote. -
Virginia secedes from the Union
April 17, 1861 - Virginia secedes from the Union – followed within five weeks by North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas, thus forming an eleven-state Confederacy. -
he President authorizes the suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus.
April 27, 1861 - The President authorizes the suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. -
e Union suffers a defeat at Bull Run in northern Virginia
July 21, 1861 - The Union suffers a defeat at Bull Run in northern Virginia. Union troops fall back to Washington. The President now realizes the war will be long.