Abraham Lincoln

Top Ten Things to Know About Abraham Lincoln

It wasn't long ago that we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great president, Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln is one of the most famous presidents of the United States. Many say that he was one of the best men of his time and that his legacy will last forever.

1. Born in Kentucky

Lincoln was the very first president who was born outside of the 13 original colonies. He was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

2. Tallest President Ever

Not only was Lincoln very tall for his time, he was also one of the tallest presidents ever. He was known for making fun of his appearance from time to time; he would make jokes about his homely appearance. He was gangly, in large part because he was 6' 3" which, while short by today's NBA standards, was quite tall person for his time. He also had very large feet requiring a size 13 shoe. His feet were the second largest of any president's feet, along with George Washington and Bill Clinton.

3. Famous Beard

Abraham Lincoln is also known for his beard and facial hair. An interesting fact: he was the first president of the United States to wear a beard. He was conscious of his appearance and many people believe that he started wearing it to please an 11 year old girl who wrote him a letter telling him that he would look better if he were to wear a beard. It became a trademark of his presidency and, indeed, his life.

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

Lincoln loved reading, even at a very young age. Some of his favorite books were the King James Version of the Bible, Aesop's Fables, Shakespeare's works, John Bunyan and Robert Burns. Reading and writing became very important to him as president as well. He was known for all of the letters that he wrote but never sent, as they would have been considered harsh.

5. Appearance and Demeanor

Lincoln was very famous for his appearance and demeanor. He has been portrayed in more movies than any other president due in part to some very significant events in which he was involved and his unique looks. More people can identify Abraham Lincoln without any assistance than any other president, except maybe the most recent ones.

6. African American Participation in 2nd Inauguration Parade

The inauguration parade is a very important event for every president. During Lincoln's second inauguration African Americans participated in the parade for the first time.

7. Horses, Turkeys and Cats, Oh My!

Abraham Lincoln also had a lot of pets. He was fascinated with animals and took very good care of the ones that he had, which included Jack the turkey and two goats, Nanny and Nanko. He also had horses, pigs, dogs, cats and even a white rabbit.

8. No Formal Education

Many people associate the president with a very prestigious career in politics and a extensive education, typically at an Ivy League school. However, Lincoln was closer to the average person and less elitist. He didn't have any college education, but certainly couldn't have been classified as unintelligent.

9. Politics and Military Service

Lincoln was involved with politics and the military before he was elected president. He was a Captain in the Black Hawk War of 1832 under the command of Colonel Zachary Taylor and also served in the Illinois State Legislature. He was also a member of the House of Representatives.

10. Leader and Uniter

He successfully led the country through the American Civil War, which was one of the most dramatic events in the nation's history. Not only did he help end slavery; he also secured more rights for all of Americans and helped re-unite the country.