Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. His contributions to the United States are still remembered and appreciated today. He was a strong leader who guided the nation through the Civil War and ultimately abolished slavery in the United States. Here are 10 facts about Abraham Lincoln that may surprise you.

1. Abraham Lincoln was born on 12th February 1809.

Abraham Lincoln was born on 12th February 1809, that’s over 200 years ago!

He was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

2. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America.

He was President from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the country through the American Civil War.

3. Abraham Lincoln was successful in abolishing slavery in the United States.

Abraham Lincoln was successful in abolishing slavery in the United States.

He made a speech called the ‘Emancipation Proclamation’ which changed the aim of the American Civil War to include the freeing of slaves in addition to preserving the Union.

Although the Proclamation initially freed only the slaves in the rebellious states, by the end of the war the Proclamation had influenced and prepared citizens to advocate and accept abolition for all slaves in both the North and South.

The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, was passed on December 6th, 1865.

4. Abraham Lincoln is one of the four former Presidents who appear on Mount Rushmore.

Abraham Lincoln is one of the four Presidents who appear on Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

The other three former Presidents carved into Mount Rushmore are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt.

5. Abraham Lincoln was also a lawyer.

Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer.

He was self-educated and also became the Whig Party leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. Congressman from Illinois.

6. Abraham Lincoln was nicknamed ‘Honest Abe’

Abraham Lincoln was nicknamed ‘Honest Abe’.

He believed in his own integrity and worked hard to maintain his reputation as an honest politician and lawyer.

7. Abraham Lincoln loved Top Hats!

Abraham Lincoln loved Top Hats!

He was very tall (6’4), and towered over most of his contemporaries. He chose to stand out even more by wearing high top hats.

Lincoln sometimes kept important documents under the tall black hats he wore.

The Top Hat he wore the day he was assassinated is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

8. Abraham Lincoln is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Abraham Lincoln is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Honest Abe wasn’t in the WWE, but he was a very good wrestler.

He was defeated only once in approximately 300 matches! That’s some record…

9. The Lincoln Memorial is in Washington D.C.

The Lincoln Memorial is in Washington D.C.

It’s a big white temple, with a statue of Abraham Lincoln in the centre.

On the wall behind Lincoln are the words: “In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”

10. The Lincoln family ate at the White House dinner table with their cat.

The Lincoln family ate at the White House dinner table with their cat – delicious!

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Find some top facts about George Washington, John F Kennedy and Barack Obama.

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