Lincoln's Personal Life Timeline
| 1809 | 1818 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1846 | 1850 | 1851 | 1853 | 1862 | 1865 |
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| Born | Mom Died | Married | Robert Born | Bought Home | Edward Born | Willie Born & Eddie Dies |
Father Dies | Tad Born | Willie Dies | Assassination |
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1809 - Born
Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky to Nancy Hanks Lincoln and Thomas Lincoln.
Resources for Teachers
- Biography-Abraham Lincoln's Early Years Collection Connection for the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.
- The Boyhood of Abraham Lincoln Lesson plan from KET grade level K-3.
- Dramatic Interpretation: Stories of Young Abraham Lincoln Lesson plan from KET grade level K-3.
Resources for Students
- Abraham Lincoln's Youth America's Library: Meet Amazing American's
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- The Pioneer Boy, or the Early Life of Abraham Lincoln Prints and Photographs
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, Hodgenville, Larue County, KY Prints and Photographs
- An interior view of the original Lincoln cabin showing the old fireplace in the west room and the old spinning jenny of Mrs. Lincoln Prints and Photographs
- Abraham Lincoln, (May-June 1860) (Autobiographical Notes) American Memory
- Abraham Lincoln, 1846 Poem, ("My Childhood Home I See Again") American Memory
- Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Haycraft, Monday, May 28, 1860 (Reply to Haycraft's inquiry regarding Lincoln's parents) American Memory
- Young Lincoln Prints and Photographs
- Lincoln memorial marriage certificate of Thos. Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, old Lincoln cabin, etc American Memory
- Thomas Lincoln, born 1779, died 1851 Prints and Photographs
- House where Abraham Lincoln's father lived and died in Coles Co, Illinois, 9 miles south of Charleston Prints and Photographs
- Postcard Lincoln cabin. birth place of Abraham Lincoln. In this log cabin in Hardin County Kentucky, on February 12, 1809, this great man was born. American Memory
- The Centenary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. One hundred portraits of Lincoln from the Oldroyd Lincoln Memorial Collection, in the house where Lincoln died. American Memory
- Shenandoah Valley. The Lincoln family originally came from the Shenandoah Valley. This substancial farm house belonged to Abraham Lincoln's grandfather and here the President's father was born. American Memory
- Dennis F. Hanks, 1877 (Statement on relationship with Lincoln) American Memory
- Samuel Haycraft to Abraham Lincoln, Sunday, August 19, 1860 (Possible Lincoln visit to Kentucky)
Other Resources
- "American in 1809" helps put Lincoln's birth in context by exploring the state of the nation at that time. The Newberry Library and Chicago History Museum
- Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial: National Park Service
- To Samuel Haycraft, June 4, 1860: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
- Abe Lincoln: The Boy who Loved Books Scholastic
- Abraham Lincoln's Parents. Abraham Lincoln Research Site
- Lincoln Log Cabin Lincoln Log Cabin State Historical Site
1818 »
1818 - Mom Died
On October 5, 1818 at the age of 34, Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of milk sickness. She contracted this disease by drinking contaminated milk from cows that had grazed on the poisonous whitesnake root plant. Thomas Lincoln later married Sarah Bush Johnston.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Alfred Myler to Abraham Lincoln, Wednesday, November 23, 1864 (can locate where Lincoln's mother is buried) American Memory
- Cornelia Fonda to Abraham Lincoln, Thursday, January 28, 1864 (Support) American Memory
Other Resources
- The Plant that Killed Nancy Hanks Lincoln by the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial; National Park Service
- Nancy Hanks Lincoln Grave Site National Parks Service
- Nancy Hanks Lincoln National Parks Service
- Nancy Hanks Lincoln Kentucky Historical Society
1842 - Married
After a turbulent relationship over the past three years, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd on the evening of November 4, 1842. The small ceremony took place at the home of Mary's sister, Elizabeth Edwards. The service was conducted by Reverend Charles N. Dresser.
Resources for Teachers
- Lincoln's Other White House: Webcast
- A Family Divided: National First Ladies Library-Lesson Plan
- Mary Todd Lincoln: First Lady of Controversy: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum-Lesson Plan
- President's Wife and Former Slave-Friends? Teaching with Primary Sources-Quincy-Lesson Plan
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Mary Todd Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait of a woman, seated, facing front American Memory
- Mrs. Abraham Lincoln Prints and Photographs
- Letter, Abraham Lincoln to Mary S. Owens reflecting the frustrations of courtship, 16 August 1837 American Memory
- Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd Lincoln Monday, August 6, 1860 (check) American Memory
- Mrs. Lincoln's denial and what she said American Memory
Other Resources
- First Lady Biography: Mary Lincoln National First Ladies Library
- Abraham Lincoln to Samuel D. Marshall, November 11, 1842: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
- Mary Todd Lincoln House National Park Service
- Lincoln's Marriage Lincoln at 200
- Mary Todd Lincoln Mr. Lincoln's White House
- Mary Todd Lincoln The White House
- The Day Miss Todd became Mrs. Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Research Site
1843 - Robert Born
Robert Todd Lincoln, the first son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln was born on August 1, 1843 in Springfield, Illinois. He was named for his mother's father.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Robert Todd Lincoln, full length portrait, standing, facing left, wearing uniform Prints and Photographs
- Robert Lincoln Prints and Photographs
- Robert Todd Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait, seated Prints and Photographs
- Ulysses S. Grant to Abraham Lincoln, Saturday, January 21, 1865 (Military appointment for Robert Todd lincoln) American Memory
- Former residence of Pres(iden)t Lincoln, birthplace of Robt. Lincoln Prints and Photographs
Other Resources
- Robert Todd Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Research Site
- Robert Todd Lincoln Mr. Lincoln's White House
1844 - Bought Home
The Lincoln family bought their first home in 1844. The home was purchased for $1500.00 from Dr. Charles Dresser, the reverend who married the Lincoln's in 1842. This would be the only home Abraham and Mary ever purchased.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Lincoln Home Site, Chronology Drawings, 1839-1986. Jackson & Eighth Street, Springfield, Sangamon County, IL American Memory
- Lincoln residence, Springfield, Illinois American Memory
- Interior of Abraham Lincoln's home, showing fireplace, in Springfield, Illinois Prints and Photographs
- Print of Lincoln home in Springfield, Illinois American Memory
- Interior of Lincoln home, Springfield, Illinois, with view of table American Memory
- Interior of Lincoln home, Springfield, Illinois American Memory
Other Resources
- Lincoln Home National Parks Service
- Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel Hay, June 11, 1850: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
1846 - Edward Born
Edward Baker Lincoln, the second son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln was born on March 10, 1846. Eddie was named after Edward Baker, Lincoln's friend and political associate.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
Other Resources
- Abraham Lincoln to Joshua Speed,October 22, 1846: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
- Edward "Eddie" Baker Lincoln National Parks Service
- Edward Baker Lincoln Lincoln Bicentennial
1850 - Willie Born and Eddie Dies
William Wallace Lincoln, the third son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln was born on December 21, 1850. Willie was named after Dr. William Wallace who was married to one of Mary Todd's sisters.
On February 1, 1850 after 52 days of what is now know to have been pulmonary tuberculosis, Eddie passed away. He was only three years old.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
Other Resources
- Cemetery Plot for Edward Lincoln: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
1851 - Father Dies
Thomas Lincoln died on January 17, 1851 at the age of 73. Abraham did not attend his father's funeral. Thomas is buried in Shiloh Cemetery in Charleston, Illinois.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Augustus H. Chapman to Abraham Lincoln, Thursday, May 24, 1849 (Illness of Thomas Lincoln (father) American Memory
- Augustus H. Chapman to Abraham Lincoln, May 28, 1849 (Illness of Thomas Lincoln (father) American Memory
- Pie safe made by Thomas Lincoln American Memory
- Scythe attributed to Thomas Lincoln American Memory
- Hammer and wood-working tools attributed to Thomas Lincoln American Memory
- Thomas Lincoln, born 1779, died 1851 Prints and Photographs
- House where Abraham Lincoln's father lived and died, in Coles Co., Illinois, 9 miles south of Charleston Prints and Photographs
Other Resources
1853 - Tad Born
Named after Lincoln's father, Thomas Lincoln, the third son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln was born on April 4, 1853. His father nicknamed him "Tad" because Lincoln thought he resembled a tadpole.
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad looking at an album of photographs Prints and Photographs
- Abraham Lincoln, seated and holding a book, with his son Tad (Thomas) leaning on a table Prints and Photographs
- President Lincoln, General Grant and Tad Lincoln at a railway station Prints and Photographs
- Clarenbach & Herder to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, January 27, 1865 (Send skates for Tad) American Memory
- Abraham Lincoln as a father American Memory
- Peter McConnell to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, March 28, 1864 (Offers pony for Tad) American Memory
- Gardner photo of Lincoln and Tad American Memory
- President Lincoln at home. Reading the scriptures to his wife and son American Memory
- "Little Tad":ballad words and music by J.W. Turner American Memory
- Detail from photo that shows Abraham Lincoln at home in Springfield, Illinois, standing inside the fence with his son Willie and Tad (looking out from behind the corner post), summer, 1860 Prints and Photographs
Other Resources
- Thomas Lincoln: Mr. Lincoln's White House
- Thomas "Tad" Lincoln Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
- Thomas "Tad" Lincoln National Park Service
- Tad Lincoln Lincoln Bicentennial
1862 - Willie Dies
February 20, 1862, Willie Lincoln passed away of typhoid fever at the age of eleven years old. Willie was laid in state in the Green Room at the White House until his funeral on February 24, 1862.
Resources for Teachers
- Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft Special Presentation
Resources for Students
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Willie Lincoln, third son of President Lincoln. Died February 20, 1862, at the age of 12 Prints and Photographs
- J.C. De Figaniere e Morao to John G. Nicolay, Tuesday, February 25, 1862 (Death of Willie Lincoln) American Memory
- Gideon Welles to Abraham Lincoln, February (20) 1862 (Sympathy; Misdated February 19) American Memory
- George B. McClellen to Abraham Lincoln, Saturday, February 22, 1862 (Sympathy) American Memory
- Thomas H. Nelson to Abraham Lincoln, Thursday, April 17, 1862 (Sympathy) American Memory
- Franklin Pierce to Abraham Lincoln, Tuesday, March 04, 1862 (Sympathy) American Memory
- Charles P.McIlvaine to Abraham Lincoln, Thursday, March 27, 1862 (Sympathy) American Memory
- The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1, 1861 to April 11, 1862, February 24, 1862 American Memory
- The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft. 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1, 1861 to April 11, 1862. February 20, 1862 American Memory
Other Resources
- William Wallace Lincoln Mr Lincoln's White House
- The Death of WIllie Lincoln New York Times
1865 - Assassination
At Ford's Theatre, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln while attending the play "Our American Cousin" on April 14, 1865. An unconscious Lincoln was carried to the home of William Peterson. At 7:22 A.M. the next morning, President Lincoln passed away.
Resources for Teachers
- Abraham Lincoln: Resource Guide
- Lincoln's Assassination Collection Connection for Washington During the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865.
- Oh Captain, My Captain Lyrical Legacy
- The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Selected Images from the Collections of the Library of Congress.
- Artifacts of Assassination - American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
- Account of Lincoln Assassination American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
- Oh Captain, My Captain American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
- Now He Belongs to the Ages American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
- $100,000 Reward Poster American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
- Whitman's Elegy for Lincoln Webcast
- Chase for Lincoln's Killer Webcast
Resources for Students
- April 14, 1865 Assasination of President Lincoln Today in History
- February 9 Oh Captain, My Captain Today in History
- What's in your Pocket? April 2003 Wise Guide
- The Assassination of President Lincoln, April 14, 1865 America's Story: Jump Back in Time
- What's in your Pocket? America's Story: Meet Amazing People
Library of Congress Primary Sources
- Washington DC 1865-David E. Herold, one of the Lincoln assassination conspirators Prints and Photographs
- Washington, District of Columbia. Execution of the conspirators: View of the scaffold Prints and Photographs
- Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, Samuel Arnold, a conspirator (seated) Prints and Photographs
- Washington D.C., 1865-Michael O'Laughlen, one of the Lincoln assassination conspirators Print and Photographs
- President Abraham Lincoln's hearse, Springfield S.M. Fassett, photographer, Chicago Prints and Photographs
- Home of Mr. Petersen, opposite Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., where the President Died; House of Wm. H. Seward, Washington, D.C. Prints and Photographs
- William A. Petersen House, 516 Tenth Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, D.C. American Memory
- Coffin containing the remains of President Lincoln; Small doors leading to the President's box, Ford's theatre...; Murder of President Lincoln; Mr. Lincoln carried from the theatre to Petersen's house, opposite; Booth's stable..; Rear of Ford's theattre.. showing door by which Booth made his escape Prints and Photographs
- Ford's Theatre, 511 Tenth Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, D.C. Prints and Photographs
- Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C. Prints and Photographs
- Assassination of President Lincoln: at Ford's Theatre, Washington D.C., April 14, 1865 American Memory
- Eugenie to Mary Todd Lincoln, Friday, April 28, 1865 (Condolences in French) American Memory
- Louis Philippe to Mary Todd Lincoln, Friday, May 15, 1865 (Condolences) American Memory
- John Bigelow to Mary Todd Lincoln, Friday, December 7, 1866 (Sends gold medal from French republicans) American Memory
- The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, Volume 3, January 1, 1864-May 30, 1865, April 30, 1865 American Memory
- Queen Victoria to Mary Todd Lincoln, Saturday, April 29, 1865 (Condolences) American Memory
- The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, Volume 3, January 1, 1864-May 30, 1865, May 20, 1865 American Memory
- The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, Volume 3, January 1, 1864-May 30, 1865, April 14, 1865 American Memory
- James S. Knox to Knox, Saturday, April 15, 1865 (Eyewitness account of Lincoln's assassination) American Memory
Other Resources
- Trial of the Lincoln Conspirators: University of Missouri Kansas City
- Surrat House Museum
« 1862
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