President Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, 1860

Intro

Abraham Lincoln was a great man. And he was a good man. He stood by his values while operating from a place of his virtues. In doing so, amongst his many accomplishments, he led America through arguably its biggest conflict—certainly, the country's most significant moral shift. 

Early Years

"All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother - blessings on her memory." - Abraham Lincoln

Born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, Abraham would describe his upbringing as "the short and simple annals of the poor. That's my life, and that's all you or anyone can make out of it." 

His childhood years were spent on the frontier, an experience that came with many challenges and dangers. Abraham grew up tough in such an environment and became a wrestling champion. As with most people living on the frontier, education opportunities were limited. His total formal schooling amounted to about a year. However, he had an insatiable curiosity. And though books were scarce, the young boy read whatever he could get his hands on, including the Bible, Aesop's Fables, John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," and a biography of Benjamin Franklin.

It was also during these early years that one of Abraham's most significant times of sorrow took place. His mother passed away when he was just nine years old. But while their time together was short, she had a deep impact, instilling the core values of greatness in him. Absolute honesty, unwavering integrity, a passion for fairness, discipline, and a deep respect for the Divine formed the bedrock of his character. He would carry these values through life, with people calling him "Honest Abe," a well-earned nickname.