Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky. He served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865.
On April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The president was shot while watching Our American Cousin with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln and guests Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris.
Lincoln died the following morning at 7:22 a.m., April 15th 1865 at Petersen House across the street from Ford’s Theater. He was buried in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois on May 4th 1865 following a state funeral and train journey from Washington to Chicago where he lay in state for over two weeks prior to burial services at Oak Ridge Cemetery on May 4th 1875 (May 3rd).
Lincoln’s presidency was one of the most important and influential in American history. His leadership during the Civil War helped bring about a reunification of the country, and he was the first U.S. president to be assassinated. Lincoln is considered by many historians to be one of the greatest presidents in American history, along with George Washington and FDR.
