Abraham Lincoln, also known as Honest Abe or the Great Emancipator, was the 16th president of the United States (1861–65). Lincoln is known for preserving the Union during the American Civil War and emancipating those bound in slavery. On February 12, 1809, he was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky, and died in Washington, D.C, on April 15, 1865.

Among American heroes, Lincoln continues to have a special place in the hearts of his fellow citizens and people from other countries. This allure stems from his unique life story—from humble beginnings to a tragic death—and his unusually human and humanistic personality, and his historical role as Union savior and emancipator of oppressed people. Moreover, his importance endures and rises, owing to his eloquence as a democratic voice. The Union, he believed, was worth preserving not just for its own sake but also because it represented an ideal, that of self-government.

In recent years, researchers have focused on the political aspects of Lincoln’s character, particularly his racial beliefs, as he continues to be a popular subject of study. On May 30, 1922, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington was dedicated to him.

Lincoln has become a legend as much as a historical figure. Legend has it that Abraham Lincoln has evolved into a mutable god who can take on any form to satisfy practically everyone. He’s Old Abe and a natural gentleman at the same time. Honest Abe is also a being of superhuman wit and intelligence. He is also Father Abraham, the authority figure who stands by the weak; he is an equal, a neighbor, and a friend.