Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th President of the United States. He served from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln rose from humble beginnings to become a self-taught lawyer and politician. He is best known for leading the country during the American Civil War. He worked to end slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment. Lincoln's leadership preserved the Union and strengthened the federal government. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865 and is remembered as one of America's greatest presidents.