1809: Born in Kentucky

1835-36: Serves in Illinois State Legislature

1847-49: Serves in to the U.S. House of Representatives

1855: Serves again in Illinois State Legislature

1858: Loses Senate race to Stephen Douglas, but achieves national recognition for the Lincoln-Douglas debates

1861-65: Serves as sixteenth U.S. president

1861: Civil War begins

1864: Reelected president

1865: Civil War ends; Lincoln assassinated; Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution—abolishing slavery—is ratified