Born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin on the Sinking Spring Farm, located near present-day Hodgenville, Kentucky, Lincoln was largely self-educated and rose from modest beginnings driven by his commitment to learning. After establishing himself as a lawyer in Illinois across a career that spanned over 2 decades, he entered politics and eventually became President in 1861. During his time in office, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and championed the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. His speeches, including the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address, will always hold a special place in American history. He was assassinated in 1865 but more than a century on, his reflections continue to resonate with people around the world.
