Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln Made Honorary Citizen of San Marino
On May 7, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln accepted the “honor of citizenship” from San Marino. It was one of the earliest instances of US and San Marino relations, which wouldn’t be formally established for decades.

Birth of Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was born on April 20, 1850, in Exeter, New Hampshire. French made over 100 statues, memorials, sculptures and reliefs during his career, most notably the statue at the center of the Lincoln Memorial and the Concord Minuteman.

Lincoln’s Cooper Union Address
On February 27, 1860, Abraham Lincoln gave one of the most important speeches of his career – the Cooper Union Address.

Birth of Carl Sandburg
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Carl Sandburg was born on January 6, 1878, in Galesburg, Illinois. He wrote his own “American fairytales” as well as children’s books and biographies on Abraham Lincoln.

South Carolina Secedes from the Union
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Within months they were followed by 10 other states, forming the Confederate States of America, sparking the Civil War.

Capture of Fort Duquesne
On November 25, 1758, British and Colonial American forces successfully took over Fort Duquesne from the French. This came near the end of several years of fighting in the French and Indian Wars.

Thanksgiving Day Proclamations
On October 3, 1789 and 1863, two sitting presidents called on Americans to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving in November.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates
On August 21, 1858, Abraham Lincoln participated in the first of seven debates against Stephen Douglas. Part of a race for an Illinois seat in the US Senate, they became known as the Lincoln-Douglas Debates or the Great Debates of 1858.

Yosemite Land Grant
On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant. This made Yosemite Valley the first piece of land set aside by the US government for preservation and public use.