what states was abraham lincoln a lawyer for

by Pearlie Cormier I 6 min read

Lincoln in Court
He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1836 and practiced law there for 25 years. Most of his work involved settling debts, contracts, business disputes, divorces, and some criminal cases. An occasional case would take him to a federal court or the Illinois Supreme Court.

What did Abraham Lincoln do as a lawyer?

In this year, Lincoln entered into a partnership with William H. Herndon, who at the age of 26 became his junior partner. One of Lincoln's greatest strengths as a lawyer was to take complex cases, parse out the key points, and simplify it in court.

Where did Abraham Lincoln go to Law School?

Home | News | Books | Speeches | Places | Resources | Education | Timelines | Index | Search. Lincoln as a Young Lawyer. Abraham Lincoln enjoyed a successful legal career in Illinois spanning nearly 25 years. Like most lawyers of his time, he did not attend law school.

How many law partners did Abraham Lincoln have?

Lincoln had three different law partners at separate times during his career as a practicing attorney, all of whom were located in Springfield. His first partnership began in 1837 when he became the junior partner to John Todd Stuart, who was his mentor and the cousin of his future wife, Mary.

How long did Abraham Lincoln's legal career last?

Abraham Lincoln enjoyed a successful legal career in Illinois spanning nearly 25 years. Like most lawyers of his time, he did not attend law school.

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In which state did Lincoln work as a lawyer and politician?

IllinoisLincoln settled in the village of New Salem where he worked as a boatman, store clerk, surveyor, and militia soldier during the Black Hawk War, and became a lawyer in Illinois. He was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1834, and was reelected in 1836, 1838, 1840 and 1844.

Was Lincoln a lawyer for the railroads?

Although he was clearly a railroad booster in the political arena, Lincoln's dealing with the rail industry as a lawyer was more complex. Admitted to the bar in 1837, Lincoln settled in Springfield. Over two decades he was a member of several partnerships, finally joining with William H. Herndon in 1844.

Which states did Lincoln's legislature serve?

Illinois state legislatureThe "lost ambrotype" of Lincoln in 1853, at the age of 44, looking much as he did when he was in the Illinois state legislature (Library of Congress) Abraham Lincoln spent more years as an Illinois state representative than his entire time as U.S. congressman and U.S. president combined.

Was Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer?

Abraham Lincoln enjoyed a successful legal career in Illinois spanning nearly 25 years. Like most lawyers of his time, he did not attend law school. It was customary to study under established lawyers, but he lived in a rural village and taught himself.

What was Lincoln's first case as a lawyer?

Lewis v. LewisAccording to historical records, Lincoln represented approximately 175 cases before the Illinois Supreme Court. In 1849, he argued for Thomas Lewis, the defendant in Lewis v. Lewis, which was his only case tried before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Who were Lincoln's three law partners?

In his nearly 25 years as a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln had three partners. He joined John Todd Stuart (1837-1841) as a junior partner, then started a new practice as a junior partner with Stephen T. Logan (1841-1844). After he and Logan dissolved their partnership, he took William H.

What states did Abraham Lincoln live in?

Hodgenville, Kentucky, U.S. Washington, D.C., U.S. Lincoln was born into poverty in a log cabin in Kentucky and was raised on the frontier, primarily in Indiana. He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. Congressman from Illinois.

What did Abraham Lincoln promise to southern states?

In his inaugural address, Lincoln promised not to interfere with the institution of slavery where it existed, and pledged to suspend the activities of the federal government temporarily in areas of hostility. However, he also took a firm stance against secession and the seizure of federal property.

What president was born in Illinois?

Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan is the only US President to actually be born in Illinois, and there is a museum in his birth town of Tampico.

When did Abraham become a lawyer?

1836He decided to attempt a career as a lawyer, but rather than going to law school, Lincoln was self-taught. He rigorously studied by reading a large selection of previous legal cases and law books, and in 1836, at the young age of 25, he obtained his law license.

When did Lincoln practice law?

On this day in 1839, Abraham Lincoln reached an important milestone in his legal career when the U.S. Circuit Court admitted him to practice law before that tribunal. During his years as a practicing attorney, Lincoln honed oratorical skills that served him well as the nation's beleaguered Civil War president.

When did Lincoln stop practicing law?

In the 1840s, Abraham Lincoln took on his first Illinois State Supreme Court case just before ending his partnership with Logan. After he got elected to the US Congress in 1846, Lincoln took a 2-year break from practicing law.

When did Abraham Lincoln get his law license?

In preparing for his legal career, Lincoln enthusiastically studied law books loaned to him, and on Sept. 9, 1836, he received his law license. This license was issued by two Illinois Supreme Court justices, and several months later, on March 1, 1837, he was admitted to the Bar of Illinois after swearing an oath to support the constitutions ...

How many law partners did Abraham Lincoln have?

Lincoln had three different law partners at separate times during his career as a practicing attorney, all of whom were located in Springfield. His first partnership began in 1837 when he became the junior partner to John Todd Stuart, who was his mentor and the cousin of his future wife, Mary.

What did Lincoln do after he left Springfield?

In 1861, Lincoln left Springfield to head to the White House. Upon his departure, he made note of the Lincoln and Herndon sign that was hanging outside of his law office. Determined to return and practice law following his term as president, he instructed Herndon, "Let it hang there undisturbed."

How many circuits did Lincoln go to?

This was a 14-county circuit that Lincoln, court officials, and a group of fellow attorneys traveled to hold court and try cases.

What law required Illinois to have a license?

His ability to gain a license with such minimal formal education was due to a law that Illinois passed in 1833 that merely required applicants to be certified by an Illinois county court as being a man of good moral character.

What was Abraham Lincoln famous for?

A History of Abraham Lincoln and His Lawyer Career. Abraham Lincoln is famous for being the 16th president of the United States. He is also known as the president responsible for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and winning the Civil War, which led to the end of the practice of slavery in America. Prior to becoming a famous leader, however, ...

How many cases did Abraham Lincoln handle?

Lincoln's law practices handled more than 5,000 cases, both criminal and civil. He took on a wide range of cases, including property disputes, assault, and murder, and he frequently served as a railroad attorney.

What party did Abraham Lincoln support?

After settling in the town of New Salem, Illinois, where he worked as a shopkeeper and a postmaster, Lincoln became involved in local politics as a supporter of the Whig Party, winning election to the Illinois state legislature in 1834.

Where was Abraham Lincoln born?

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 to Nancy and Thomas Lincoln in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His family moved to southern Indiana in 1816. Lincoln’s formal schooling was limited to three brief periods in local schools, as he had to work constantly to support his family.

What was Lincoln's most famous speech?

Lincoln proved to be a shrewd military strategist and a savvy leader: His Emancipation Proclamation paved the way for slavery’s abolition, while his Gettysburg Address stands as one of the most famous pieces of oratory in American history.

What did Lincoln say about the Kansas Nebraska Act?

On October 16, 1854, Lincoln went before a large crowd in Peoria to debate the merits of the Kansas-Nebraska Act with Douglas, denouncing slavery and its extension and calling the institution a violation of the most basic tenets of the Declaration of Independence.

Why did Mary Lincoln hold seances?

After his young son Willie died of typhoid fever in 1862, the emotionally fragile Mary Lincoln, widely unpopular for her frivolity and spendthrift ways, held seances in the White House in the hopes of communicating with him , earning her even more derision. Lincoln taught himself law, passing the bar examination in 1836.

Why was Abraham Lincoln unpopular?

As a congressman, Lincoln was unpopular with many Illinois voters for his strong stance against the Mexican-American War. Promising not to seek reelection, he returned to Springfield in 1849.

Why was Lincoln unpopular in Illinois?

As a congressman, Lincoln was unpopular with many Illinois voters for his strong stance against the Mexican-American War. Promising not to seek reelection, he returned to Springfield in 1849.

What was Abraham Lincoln's career?

While he was an important part of American history in this regard, he also had a successful career as a lawyer . This background is part of what made Lincoln so adapted to writing excellent speeches and what made him so well-versed in understanding the law as well as right versus wrong. He spent most of his early life on a farm in Indiana and eventually moved to Illinois, where he took several jobs, including as a storekeeper and a surveyor. But his deep interest in the law formed the foundation for what he would become later in life.

How did Abraham Lincoln impact the American people?

This helped him win a seat in the House of Representatives in 1846. He spoke out against the Mexican-American War and against slavery, which he felt needed to be abolished. He ran as a Republican for president in 1860 and was successfully elected as the 16th president of the United States in 1861. He was then re-elected in 1864. Throughout his presidential career, Abraham Lincoln fought tirelessly against the horrors of slavery and tried diligently to unite a divided nation. His leadership during the Civil War was integral to how our country is shaped today. Sadly, he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865. This moment in history is known as one of America's darkest days. People all over the country revered Lincoln as a great man, even those who may have disagreed with him. Today, his legacy as a uniting force for America and someone who fought tirelessly for freedom lives on.

What was Lincoln's role in the Civil War?

His leadership during the Civil War was integral to how our country is shaped today. Sadly, he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.

What is Lincoln's legacy?

Today, his legacy as a uniting force for America and someone who fought tirelessly for freedom lives on.

Where did Abraham Lincoln move to?

The next year he moved to Springfield, Illinois, the new state capital, which offered many more opportunities for a lawyer than New Salem did. At first Lincoln was a partner of John T. Stuart, then of Stephen T. Logan, and finally, from 1844, of William H. Herndon.

How much did Abraham Lincoln make in Illinois?

Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, Illinois. Within a few years of his relocation to Springfield, Lincoln was earning $1,200 to $1,500 annually, at a time when the governor of the state received a salary of $1,200 and circuit judges only $750. He had to work hard.

What was Lincoln's role in the Illinois Central Railroad?

The coming of the railroads, especially after 1850, made travel easier and practice more remunerative. Lincoln served as a lobbyist for the Illinois Central Railroad, assisting it in getting a charter from the state, and thereafter he was retained as a regular attorney for that railroad .

Move to Illinois

Many people are unaware that Lincoln was mostly self-educated and learned to read while in Kentucky, scratching words on the back of a shovel as his paper pad of sorts.

Did Abraham Lincoln Attend Law School?

Abraham Lincoln enjoyed a 25-year legal career in Illinois, but he was never really educated in the field. He did practice law but did not take the traditional law school route. Like many lawyers in the 1800s, Abraham Lincoln never received his legal education or attended law school.

When Did Abraham Lincoln Practice Law?

In 1834, Abraham caught the attention of a lawyer by the name of John Stuart, who gave Lincoln a lot of legal books to study and encouraged him to pick up this profession. As bright as Lincoln was, within 3 years, the stout gentleman joined John Stuart as a partner in his law practice.

Abe and the Illinois Supreme Court

In the 1840s, Abraham Lincoln took on his first Illinois State Supreme Court case just before ending his partnership with Logan. After he got elected to the US Congress in 1846, Lincoln took a 2-year break from practicing law. However, he soon resumed his practice, working hard to regain his position as a prairie lawyer.

What did Abraham Lincoln take?

Lincoln took blue mass pills, which contained mercury.

What happened to Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln suffered depressed mood after major traumatic events, such as the death of Ann Rutledge in August 1835, the cessation of his (purported) engagement to Mary Todd Lincoln in January 1841 (after which several close associates feared Lincoln's suicide), and after the Second Battle of Bull Run.

What was Lincoln's health before he was assassinated?

The theories are that he suffered from multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) or Marfan syndrome, rare genetic disorders. DNA analysis of a pillowcase stained with Lincoln's blood, currently in possession of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library in Philadelphia may be able to resolve open questions about Lincoln's health.

What was Lincoln's facial asymmetries?

The theory that Lincoln's facial asymmetries were a manifestation of craniofacial microsomia has been replaced with a diagnosis of left synostotic frontal plagiocephaly , which is a type of craniosynostosis .

What did Lincoln have after he quit taking the pills?

Based on his behavior and physical condition while taking the pills and after he quit taking them, Lincoln may have suffered from mercury poisoning. It has been theorized that Lincoln had Marfan syndrome or, more likely, Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B, both rare genetic diseases.

What is the habitus of Lincoln?

Body habitus. The habitu s, or structure, of Lincoln's body attracted attention while he was alive, and continues to attract attention today among medical professionals. Height: as a child, Lincoln was tall, describing himself as "though very young, he was large of his age.".

What is the remarkable thing about Lincoln's temper?

The remarkable thing about Lincoln's temper is not how often it erupted, but how seldom it did, considering how frequently he encountered the insolence of epaulets, the abuse of friends and opponents alike, and the egomaniacal selfishness of editors, senators, representatives, governors, cabinet members, generals, and flocks of others who pestered him unmercifully about their own petty concerns.

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Overview

Abraham Lincoln was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War and succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, bolstering the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.

Family and childhood

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, the second child of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, in a log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was a descendant of Samuel Lincoln, an Englishman who migrated from Hingham, Norfolk, to its namesake, Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. The family then migrated west, passing through New Jersey, Pennsylv…

Early career and militia service

When Lincoln returned home from the Black Hawk War, he planned to become a blacksmith. He didn't, but he formed a partnership with William Berry, 21, with whom he purchased a general store on credit in New Salem, Illinois. Because a license was required to sell customers single beverages, Berry obtained bartending licenses for $7 each for Lincoln and himself, and in 1833 the store became a tavern as well. As licensed bartenders, Lincoln and Berry were able to sell spirits…

Illinois state legislature (1834–1842)

Lincoln's second state house campaign in 1834, this time as a Whig, was a success over a powerful Whig opponent. Then followed his four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives for Sangamon County. He championed construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and later was a Canal Commissioner. He voted to expand suffrage beyond white landowners to all w…

U.S. House of Representatives (1847–1849)

True to his record, Lincoln professed to friends in 1861 to be "an old line Whig, a disciple of Henry Clay". Their party favored economic modernization in banking, tariffs to fund internal improvements including railroads, and urbanization.
In 1843, Lincoln sought the Whig nomination for Illinois' 7th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; he was defeated by John J. Hardin though he pr…

Prairie lawyer

In his Springfield practice, Lincoln handled "every kind of business that could come before a prairie lawyer". Twice a year he appeared for 10 consecutive weeks in county seats in the Midstate county courts; this continued for 16 years. Lincoln handled transportation cases in the midst of the nation's western expansion, particularly river barge conflicts under the many new railroad bridg…

Republican politics (1854–1860)

The debate over the status of slavery in the territories failed to alleviate tensions between the slave-holding South and the free North, with the failure of the Compromise of 1850, a legislative package designed to address the issue. In his 1852 eulogy for Clay, Lincoln highlighted the latter's support for gradual emancipation and opposition to "both extremes" on the slavery issue. As the sl…

Presidency (1861–1865)

The South was outraged by Lincoln's election, and in response secessionists implemented plans to leave the Union before he took office in March 1861. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina took the lead by adopting an ordinance of secession; by February 1, 1861, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas followed. Six of these states declared themselves to be …