Below is a brief timeline highlighting significant career events in Lincoln's life. For additional information on these discussion topics, please click the year.
Lincoln joined a volunteer company at the outbreak of the Blackhawk War. He was elected Captain of the Volunteers, this could be said to be Lincoln's first campaign and election. He served three months but did not participate in any battles. Lincoln described his experience as a Captain in the Blackhawk War as "a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since."
After an unsuccessful run in 1832, Lincoln was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1834. He received the highest amount of votes cast for any candidate. He served in the Illinois Legislature until 1840 serving four terms.
Elected as a Whig on August 4 to Illinois House of Representatives. Takes his seat on December 1 at capital in Vandalia. Meets Stephen A. Douglas, 21-year-old lawyer active in Democratic party politics.
Wins reelection on August 1. Receives license to practice law on September 9.
Lincoln and others lead successful campaign to move state capital from Vandalia to Springfield. Becomes law partner of John T. Stuart and begins extensive and varied civil and criminal practice.
Lincoln voted to exclude slavery from federal territories and abolish slave trade in the District of Columbia. In June, Lincoln returned to Washington in pursuit of position as commissioner of the General Land Office. He fails to receive appointment from the new Taylor administration. Upon his return to Illinois to practice law, Lincoln receives an offer to become secretary and then governor of the Oregon Territory but he declines the appointment.
Applied for patent on device for reducing draft of steamboats in shallow water. Lincoln is the only president with a patent. His invention consisted of a buoyant system to allow boats and vessels to pass over shallow waters or bars. His patent was granted on May 22, 1849.
Joins in founding Republican Party of Illinois at convention in Bloomington, May 29, and inspires delegates with address that goes unrecorded (later known as the "Lost Speech").
Serving as a launching point for his unsuccessful campaign for the Senate seat against Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln’s House Divided speech created a lasting image of the danger of disunion based on slavery, and it rallied Republicans across the North.
On July 24, Lincoln invites Douglas to "divide time" on the same platform for remainder of campaign. Douglas declines, but agrees to seven debates, which are held on August 21, 27, September 15, 18, and October 7, 13, 15. Lincoln participated in seven debates across the state of Illinois with Stephen Douglas campaigning for one of the Illinois State Senate seats. The debates started in Ottawa, Illinois on August 21, 1858 and proceeded to Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy and ended in Alton, Illinois on October 15, 1858.
Delivers address on slavery and the framers of the Constitution to audience of 1,500 at Cooper Union in New York City on February 27. Wins nomination for president on the third ballot, May 18, defeating main rival Senator William H. Seward of New York as well as Senator Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, Senator Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, and Edward Bates of Missouri.
Lincoln was elected President of the United States on November 6, 1860. His opponents were Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge and John Bell.
President Lincoln's inauguration took place on March 4, 1861. South Carolina and Georgia had already succeeded from the Union and the Civil War seemed inevitable. President Lincoln ended his inauguration speech by asking the South "Shall it be peace or sword?"
Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation which was his executive order to free slaves of everyone who is in rebellion against the government. President Lincoln would sign the final draft on January 1, 1863.
On November 9, 1863 President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address. He spoke for less than three minutes in length but became Lincoln's most famous speech.
The Civil War was at an end when President Lincoln's second inauguration took place on March 4, 1865.
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.
