Abraham Lincoln: the record and the legends

Honest Abe. The 16th president, 1861-1865, from Illinois. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 16th
In office: 1861-1865
Home state: Illinois
Party: Republican
Height: 6'4"

The record

RecordAround 1831 in New Salem, Illinois, young Lincoln wrestled Jack Armstrong, the leader of a rough local crew. Accounts disagree about who won. They ended up friends.Source: National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Presidents Have Long Wrestling History
RecordLincoln is the only president with a patent. In 1849 he patented a device for lifting boats over shallow water.Source: National Archives, Lincoln's Bicentennial (Lincoln the Inventor)
RecordLincoln is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. It honored him as an Outstanding American in 1992.Source: National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame Hosts Animatronic Abraham Lincoln

The legends

LegendYou'll read that Lincoln wrestled about 300 matches and lost once. The one loss comes from his own telling, to a man named Hank Thompson in 1832. The 300 number isn't documented anywhere.Source: National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Presidents Have Long Wrestling History

What he cared about

Holding the Union together through the Civil War.
Ending slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and pushed the 13th Amendment through Congress.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Frontier wrestling (historians disagree on exactly which style)

Lincoln grew up doing hard physical work on the frontier, where wrestling was how young men sized each other up. That's where the reach and the grip come from.

See POTUS KO

Questions about Abraham Lincoln

Did Abraham Lincoln really wrestle 300 matches?

You'll read that Lincoln wrestled about 300 matches and lost once. The one loss comes from his own telling, to a man named Hank Thompson in 1832. The 300 number isn't documented anywhere.

Who did Lincoln wrestle in New Salem?

Around 1831 in New Salem, Illinois, young Lincoln wrestled Jack Armstrong, the leader of a rough local crew. Accounts disagree about who won. They ended up friends.

Did Abraham Lincoln have a patent?

Lincoln is the only president with a patent. In 1849 he patented a device for lifting boats over shallow water.