TIMELINE:  Lincoln’s First 33 Years

[April 27, 2018] 

The documents being released by the Papers of Abraham Lincoln cover his life from 1809 through 1842. They include personal letters, legislative reports, military records, newspaper articles and even a student notebook. Here are highlights from this period in Lincoln’s life and some of the related documents available at www.PapersOfAbraham Lincoln.org.

1809 February 12 Abraham Lincoln is born in Hardin County, Kentucky, the second child of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln.

1818 October 5 Abraham’s mother Nancy dies of milk sickness.

1819 December 2 Thomas Lincoln marries Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow from Kentucky, who brings three children with her. Abraham becomes very close with his stepmother, who encourages his education. [Document: 200001: Ciphering Book: earliest known Lincoln document, represents the entirety of his 12 months of formal school]

1830 March The Lincoln family moves to Illinois, settling first in Macon County. [Document: 200002 (LDE): Petition of Reuben Brown and Others to the Macon County Commissioners Court.]

1831 April-July In Sangamon County, Denton Offutt hires Lincoln to help build and pilot a flatboat bound for New Orleans. Abraham returns from the trip and settles in New Salem.

1831 August 1 Lincoln casts his first vote in an election in New Salem. [Document: 251267 (LDA): Election Returns for Clary’s Grove Precinct in Sangamon County, Illinois]

1832 March Lincoln runs for political office for the first time, contending for a seat in the Illinois House. He loses the election but wins the vast majority of the votes in his home precinct. [Document: 200008 (LDE): Abraham Lincoln to the People of Sangamon County]

1832 April Lincoln and others from Sangamon County volunteer for the militia upon the outbreak of the Black Hawk War. The company elects Lincoln as their captain. [Document: 200012b (LDE): Muster Roll of Captain Abraham Lincoln’s Company]

1833 January Lincoln and William F. Berry purchase a store in New Salem. It soon fails. [Document: 289209 (LDE): Land Description for Lincoln-Berry store]

1833 May 7 President Andrew Jackson appoints Lincoln Postmaster of New Salem. [Document: 294525 (LDA): Record of Appointment of Abraham Lincoln as Postmaster]

1834 January Lincoln takes up surveying and is appointed deputy surveyor for Sangamon County. [Document: 209345 (LDE): Survey for Reason Shipley]

1834 August 4 Lincoln is elected to the Illinois House. He takes his seat in December and soon introduces his first bill. [Document: 200039 (LDE): A Bill to Limit Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace]

1834 December 15 Lincoln introduces a bill authorizing a toll bridge. It passes on Jan. 7, 1835, becoming his first bill to become law. [Document: 200042 (LDE): A Bill to Authorize a Toll Bridge across Salt Creek in Sangamon County]

1836 March 24 Lincoln takes his first step towards obtaining a license to practice law: a certification of “good moral character.” [Document: 208616 (LDA): Certification of Good Moral Character]

1836 June 13 Lincoln publishes a statement of political principles in preparation for election to the Tenth General Assembly. [Document: 200076 (LDE): Abraham Lincoln to the Editor of the Sangamo Journal]

1836 September 9 Two Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court examine Lincoln and grant him license to practice law in Illinois circuit courts. [Document: Roll of Attorneys, LPAL]

1837 March 3 Lincoln and Dan Stone issue a protest in the Illinois House of Representatives regarding slavery. The earliest documentation of Lincoln’s opinion on the subject. [Document: 200101 (LDE): Protest Against Slavery]

1837 April 15 Lincoln moves to Springfield, becomes law partner of John T. Stuart. [Document: 200105 (LDE): Abraham Lincoln to Mary Owens]

1839 January Lincoln begins to take a leading role in Illinois Whig politics. [Document: 206851 (LDE): Abraham Lincoln to Andrew McCormick]

1840 April-October Lincoln becomes manager of William Henry Harrison’s presidential campaign in Illinois, giving stump speeches throughout the state. [Document: 200196 (LDE): Notes regarding the Plan of Campaign in 1840]

1841 January Lincoln goes through a period of deep depression after his breakup with Mary Todd. He is absent from the House of Representatives from January 13-19. [Document: 200248 (LDE): Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart]

[Christopher Wills]