BRIDGET'S GUIDE TO THE GREAT, NOT-S0-GREAT AND DOWNRIGHT ABOMINABLE AMERICAN PRESIDENTS

16) ABRAHAM LINCOLN

President from 1861-65

First President to sport a beard.

First former wrestler to become commander-in-chief. 

Had a successful career as a lawyer without ever acquiring a law degree. (Lincoln defended the son of his most frequent wrestling opponent on murder charges).

Lost five separate elections before becoming President.

Became president because of his overhelming popularity in the North and The West. Few votes were cast for him in the slave-owning Southern states.

Wanted women to have the vote in 1836.

Had four children with his wife Mary Todd.

At 6'4", the tallest President in US history.

Proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

In his inaugural address, he tried to assure the South he had no plans to abolish slavery. However, despite his pleas for untity, the South was preparing for war.

Lincoln became commander-in-chief of the Union, uniting Republicans and Democrats against the growing Confederate rebellion. 

Issued the Emancipation Proclamation on New Years Day, 1863, freeing the slaves in the rebellious Southern states.

Lincoln ultimately lead the Union to victory.

Assassinated on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth who snuck into the Presidential box at Ford's Theater and shot Lincoln in the head At his deathbed, Lincon's Secretary of War said, "Now he belongs to the ages."