Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln established the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1862.

Abraham Lincoln created the first federal income tax to help pay for the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln signed the law creating land-grant colleges, known as the Morrill Act of 1862, which led to many of today’s state universities.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to be in three different political parties: the Whig Party, the Republican Party, and the National Union Party.

Abraham Lincoln failed in business twice before becoming a successful lawyer.

Abraham Lincoln did not carry weapons during the Civil War, even though many people wanted to harm him.

Abraham Lincoln wrote his famous Gettysburg Address on White House stationery using a pencil.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to officially celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

Abraham Lincoln established the National Academy of Sciences in 1863.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president born outside the original 13 colonies.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to have a beard while in office.

Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.

Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to establish federal control over banking through the implementation of national bank charters, primarily via the National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to invite African American leaders to the White House for policy discussions.

Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to institute a military draft, signing the Enrollment Act into law on March 3, 1863.

Abraham Lincoln personally reviewed over 1,600 cases of soldiers sentenced to death during the Civil War and granted pardon to 264 of them.

Abraham Lincoln visited troops on the battlefield about 12 times during the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln read military strategy books late into the night during the Civil War to better understand the complexities of warfare.

Abraham Lincoln promoted Ulysses S. Grant to General-in-Chief after seeing his successful military strategies.

Abraham Lincoln insisted on testing new weapons himself before approving them for troops.

Abraham Lincoln visited wounded soldiers from both the Union and Confederate sides in hospitals during the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln kept a scale model of the Confederate ironclad Virginia in his office to study naval warfare.

Abraham Lincoln personally interviewed many of his generals before appointing them.

The Lincoln Memorial has 36 columns – one for each state in the Union when Abraham Lincoln died.

Abraham Lincoln’s face on Mount Rushmore is 60 feet high – his nose alone is 21 feet long!

More books have been written about Abraham Lincoln than any other American.

The Lincoln penny, officially known as the Lincoln cent, has featured Abraham Lincoln’s face since its introduction in 1909, coinciding with the centennial (100th anniversary) of his birth.

The Lincoln penny was the very first U.S. coin to feature a real person’s face!

Five-dollar bills have shown Abraham Lincoln’s portrait since 1914.

The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1922, 57 years after Abraham Lincoln’s death.

Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated as a federal holiday until 1971.

Over 15,000 books have been written about Abraham Lincoln.

The state slogan of Illinois is “Land of Lincoln.”

Abraham Lincoln never slept in the Lincoln Bedroom – it was his office!

Abraham Lincoln’s beloved dog, Fido, was the first presidential pet to be photographed!

Abraham Lincoln once used a piece of string to solve a complex math problem.

Abraham Lincoln wrote a speech defending women’s right to vote in 1836 – long before it was popular.

Abraham Lincoln won every wrestling match except one in New Salem, Illinois.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to have his voice recorded – though the recording has been lost to history.

Abraham Lincoln solved math problems by writing them on a wooden board with charcoal when paper was scarce.

Abraham Lincoln famously practiced his public speaking skills by delivering speeches to stumps in the forest, pretending they were an audience!

Abraham Lincoln let his youngest son, Tad, roller skate in the East Room of the White House, even though it scratched the floors.

Abraham Lincoln often ate just an apple for lunch while working at his desk.

Abraham Lincoln’s White House was open to the public three days a week – anyone could walk in to meet him!

Abraham Lincoln sometimes visited army camps in disguise to see how soldiers really lived.

Abraham Lincoln created the Medal of Honor in 1862 for Civil War soldiers who showed exceptional bravery.

Abraham Lincoln personally wrote letters to comfort families who lost soldiers during the Civil War, with one of the most famous being the Bixby letter.

Abraham Lincoln wrote his speeches on small pieces of paper that he kept in his hat until he needed them.

Abraham Lincoln often played checkers with his sons in the White House garden.