Heres a look at some lesser known facts about the 16th president. On october 15, 1860, a few weeks before being elected as the 16th president of the united states, abraham lincoln received a letter by an 11year old girl from new york encouraging him to grow a beard. Watch, listen and learn about our amazing 16th president, abraham lincoln. In fact, lincoln had been pondering the change for months. Grace greenwood bedell billings november 4, 1848 november 2, 1936 was an american woman, notable as the person whose correspondence, at the age of eleven, encouraged republican party nominee and future president abraham lincoln to grow his iconic beard. The average height for a man at that time was 56 president lincoln towered over most others. Issued emancipation proclamation 1st january 1863 gave gettysburg address 19 nov 1863. He was the son of thomas and nancy hanks lincoln, and he was named for his paternal grandfather. Adam goodheart is the author of the forthcoming book 1861. The surprising reason abraham lincoln grew a beard biography. As he prepared to take the oath of office, abraham lincoln began to grow out his beard after receiving a letter from a little girl encouraging him to do so. An 11yearold girl convinced abraham lincoln to grow his beard. Abraham lincoln costume set hat with beard and necktie by funny party hats 3 pc set.
On the day he was shot, lincoln told his bodyguard that he had dreamt he would be assassinated. Elevenyearold grace bedell changed history when she wrote a letter to abraham lincoln with a simple suggestion. Lincolns beard was only part of what made his physical appearance seem like. The story of how 11yearold grace bedell convinced abraham lincoln to grow a. Lincoln responded in a letter on october 19, 1860, making no promises. An 11year old girl from westfield, new york, was the inspiration behind lincolns beard.
Facial hair all but defines his famous facestamped on millions of pennies and in the memories of millions of visitors to the lincoln memorial in washington, d. From his wrestling career to the reason he grew his beard, these abraham lincoln facts are as fascinating as they are bizarre. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Reading this nice story to my little girls has inspired them to write a letter to president obama complimenting him on his book of thee i sing, which we just reread a little while ago. Use these directions to create lincolns beard and hat for students to wear. This activity goes well with the book, abe lincolns hat.
Though abraham lincolns beard is now an indelible part of his image. Abraham lincoln was born on february 12, 1809, the second child of thomas lincoln and nancy hanks lincoln, in a oneroom log cabin on sinking spring farm near hodgenville, kentucky. Why abraham lincoln grew a beard metzger, steve, kronheimer, ann on. He often stored things like letters and documents in his tall stovepiped hat. On mount rushmore, in the black hills of south dakota, 60 foot busts of four us presidents, george washington, thomas jefferson, theodore roosevelt and abraham lincoln were carved to celebrate the first 150 years of american independence. Abraham lincoln was the tallest american president, reaching 64. Abraham lincoln was the 16th president of the united states. On october 15, 1860, a few weeks before lincoln was elected president of the united states, grace bedell sent him a letter from her house at 34 academy street in westfield, new york, urging him to grow a beard to improve his appearance. Lincoln and grace is a lovely story about a little girl who writes to lincoln and suggests that he. Be it the gettysburg address or the tragic assassination at fords theatre, the key events of abraham lincolns life have secured their place in the history books. Lincoln, a lifelong beardless man, received a letter written by grace bedell, an 11yearold girl from westfield, new york.
Even though lincoln suffered from depression, he was a renowned jokester and loved to laugh. He was a descendant of samuel lincoln, an englishman who migrated from hingham, norfolk, to its namesake, hingham, massachusetts, in 1638. Charles darwin and abraham lincoln were born on the same day. If you are a lincoln fan, here are some cool facts, including lincolns career as an inventor, his love of animals, and his one losing appearance before the supreme court. Each wears a high white collar with a tightly wrapped neck stock. Key facts about abraham lincoln born february 12, 1809. Written october 15th, 1860, the letter urged him to grow a beard. Informative photographs and illustrations provide historical context in this enjoyable nonfiction text. From interesting scientific studies in the lab to beards on the battlefield truth be told, i come across great beard facts all the time. The library of congress describes this as the first photo of abraham lincoln wearing a beard. Abraham lincoln, the 16th president, has a birthday today. Lincoln responded to her letter and soon after began to grow into his signature look. Civil war and brought about the emancipation of slaves. The surprising reason why abraham lincoln grew a beard i.
Steve metzger is the bestselling author of over sixty childrens books, including the dinofours series, when the leaf blew in, and five little sharks. Before lincoln became president he chopped rails for fences. Lincolns grandfathers name was also abraham linkhorn lincoln. Lincoln writes back, and thenafter winning the election of 1860meets the little girl at a stop on his way to washington. In fact, i even reread the title twice to be sure that i was reading it correctly. The story of abraham lincolns beard is a sweet one. Abraham lincoln bear 1860 1930 how do we create a persons profile. Abraham lincoln grew his iconic beard due to a letter from. Kgr 3metzger tells the story of 11yearold grace bedell, who in 1860, wrote to the then presidential candidate and advised him to grow a beard since his face was too thin. The history text books in their classroom dont have anything exciting to say about abraham lincolns life.
Abraham lincolns coffin has been moved 17 times and opened 5 times. Why abe lincoln grew a beard why abe lincoln grew a beard. At 6 foot 4 he would stand out even today and he certainly towered over the men and women of his era. Abraham lincoln created the first federal income tax in 1861. After all, he wasnt vain and in fact had a history of engaging in. Abraham lincoln was one of the most important leaders of the united states. There are more books written about lincoln than any other american. Among american heroes, lincoln continues to have a unique appeal for his fellow countrymen and also for people. I am abraham lincoln childrens books read aloud youtube. Lincoln and grace is a lovely story about a little girl who writes to lincoln and suggests that he grow a beard to cover his thin face. A famous beard style thanks to abraham lincoln, is the chin curtain. The little girl responsible for lincolns beard today i found out. She wrote a letter to lincoln, then the thenrepublican nominee for president, and, asking he president to grow whiskers, said. Lincolns beard was only part of what made his physical appearance seem like a break with the presidential past.
Abraham lincoln, pro wrestler is the first in a delightful new series by steve sheinkin. In fact, the phenomenon predated the war by a number of years and. The surprising reason abraham lincoln grew a beard biography after receiving a letter from an 11yearold girl suggesting he lengthen his whiskers, lincoln became the first president to have a. Contributor benjamin brown looks at 10 interesting facts about abraham lincoln, who is getting a bit of media attention this week as a movie debuts about lincolns fictional exploits as a vampire hunter. I read your book, he told me, standing by the punch bowl at back to school night. Can you imagine president abraham lincoln without his iconic beard. Letter to grace bedell as you read this letter, its easy to imagine a smile on abraham lincolns face as he wrote it. At 6foot4, he would stand out even today, and he certainly towered over the men and women of his era. The future president was a suffragette before it became fashionable.
Abraham lincoln sported one of the most famous beards in history, but this may not have happened without the intervention of an elevenyearold girl named grace bedell. Abraham lincoln was born on february 12, 1809, the second child of thomas lincoln and nancy hanks lincoln, in a oneroom log cabin on sinking spring farm near. The photographs of grace as a young girl and in her later years came from trumps book. Its a reply to an 11yearold westfield, new york girl who wrote to suggest that he grow a a beard to improve his presidential prospects. We collect and match historical records that ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each persons profile.
Informational nonfiction, 834 words, level q grade 3, lexile 850l. Abraham lincoln grows a beard famous photo on this day. I am abraham lincoln ordinary people change the world by brad meltzer author, christopher eliopoulos illustrator abraham lincoln always spoke up. In 1860, a young girl named grace bedell wrote to the thenpresidential candidate, advising him to grow a beard to aid his campaign and his appearance. In fact, when lincoln visited bedells hometown in 1861, he personally and publicly. But in fact, nearly the whole time he was crisscrossing the country in 1860 in his bid for the highest political. He was the 16th president of the us and he was the first republican. The truth about lincolns beard the history reader a history. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Abraham lincoln was the first president of the united states to wear a beard. A fresh and heartwarming story about abraham lincoln and the youn. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Lincolns beard, in other words, lent him patriarchal gravitas.
And harold holzerthe most prolific authority on lincolns beardclaimed that the presidentelect grew his facial hair in an effort to discard his image as frontier railsplitter, thus transforming honest abe into father abraham. He grew the beard in 1860 after receiving a letter from 11yearold grace bedell telling the candidate if you let your whiskers grow i will try and get her brothers to vote for you and then you would be president. Lincoln invented a device to free steamboats that ran aground. President abraham lincoln beard letter written october 15. In fact, one reporter, doing a story on the new trend in 1857, walked the streets of boston and after counting 543 men that walked by him, found. Why abraham lincoln grew a beard metzger, steve, kronheimer, ann. Compare the alschuler photograph to mathew bradys portraits of buchanan and franklin pierce, both considered handsome men in their time.
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