Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America from 1861to1865. He was born on 12 February 1809 on the Big South Fork of Nolin Creek, not far from Hodgensville, Hardin County, Kentucky.

His father was a carpenter but a restless person who could not stay long in one place. The result was that the young Abraham Lincoln did not get much of an education but one thing his farther taught him was to use a hammer, saw and nails. He spent most of his days, while the average child would be in school, with his farther building a wooden cabin for the family.

His mother died while he was still young and in 1819 his father re-married. Immediately on arrival of his stepmother in their lives, everything changed for the better for the family. Until the arrival of his stepmother young Abe, as he was known, had little or no chance to learn anything of books. His father just disapproved of them but the new Mrs. Lincoln insisted that all the children (she had 3 of her own) should go to school.

This was a turning point in his life. Although he did not attend school for long he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He learned to read and write and to cipher. He read everything that came on his way with the result that he had a vast built-up of knowledge. People listened to him when he talked and he was an orator by excellence.

Another turning point was when he had to go to New Orleans where he for the first time in his life came across the plight of the slaves. He made a study of slavery in America as well as the slaves’ history after which he wowed to himself that should it ever be within his capabilities one day, he would abolish slavery.

He became a store manger and during this time he assisted as clerk of the polls at an election and so he was introduced to politics which he liked very much. He started to participate in local politics but his aspirations were disrupted when he volunteered for the Black Hawk War – the last up-rise of Indians in Illinois.

After the war his first attempt in 1832 to stand for the Illinois Legislature was not successful but in 1834 he was successful which heralded in his political career. In 1838 and 1840 he was re-elected to the Legislature.

His wife had higher ambitions for him than the Legislature and she motivated him to go for Congress and in 1847 he took his seat in Washington. The question of slavery was ever in the back of his mind but a bill introduced by him to abolish slavery was rejected and disappointed he returned home where he resumed his career in law.

However he never forgot about his promise to himself to address the question of slavery and during the years fighting as a result of secession from the Union of the southern slave-owning states, he was in the forefront to gather momentum for the abolishing of slavery. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the Republicans as candidate for presidency. By that time he was scorned by the opposition for his stance on slavery but it did not deter him.  During the presidential campaign the hatred of the South for the North flared up but Abraham Lincoln was elected as president. On 4 March 1861 he was inaugurated and on 12 April 1861 the South bombarded Fort Sumter.

This was a challenge for the new president but the North rose as one behind him but unfortunately they were defeated at Fort Sumter. Although a big blow he weathered the storms in his presidential career with the result that he was re-elected for a second term. The high of his career was when in1865 he succeeded in having passed the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution which ended slavery for ever. The second high was when the Civil War was ended in the same year. On 14 April 1865 Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre while watching the play Our American Cousin.

Abraham Lincoln was a great person and a great statesman. His greatness lies in his unselfishness for his country and for humanity. By his firmness and his courageous determination he defeated the South and steered his country through the agony of Civil War.  He carried through his promise to himself to abolish slavery. The simple, sincere country lawyer he was, he was indeed worthy of the respect of a great nation to a great hero.

Daniel