BIOGRAPHY OF TODAY

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

16th president of the United States

Birth:	February 12, 1809
Death:	April 15, 1865
Home State:	Illinois
Party:	Republican
Terms In Office:	1861-1865
	March 4, 1865-April 15, 1865
Vice Presidents:	Hannibal Hamlin
	Andrew Johnson
Significant Acts:	Led the Union in the Civil War (1861-1865) to prevent the Southern states from seceding from the United States.
	Averted Britain's involvement in the Civil War during the Trent Affair in November 1861.
	Signed the Homestead Act in 1862, which awarded 65 hectares (160 acres) to settlers who agreed to farm the land for five years.
	Issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, abolishing slavery in states rebelling against the United States.
	Created a national banking system and standardized currency with the National Banking Act in February 1863.
Career:	1830 Served in the Black Hawk War.
	1847-1849 Represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives.
	1858 Debated Stephen Douglas during the campaign for U.S. senator.
	1861-1865 Served as President of the United States.
	1865 Assassinated at Ford's Theater, Washington, D.C.
Did You Know:	Lincoln was known as a storyteller and jokester, but he also suffered from deep depression.
	Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated.
	Lincoln received a patent in 1849 for a system he designed to adjust the buoyancy of steamboats.
	Lincoln carried letters, bills, and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.
	At 6 feet, 4 inches, Lincoln was the tallest president. QUOTES  "I walk slowly, but I never walk backward."  "Nearly all men can handle adversity, if you want to test a man's character, give him power."