Updated: December 17, 2012

By Christa Fletcher

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin, the first president born outside of the original 13 colonies. His parents were farmers and he spent much of his young life educating himself while working on his family's land. Despite his obvious intelligence, Lincoln attended a formal school for only 18 months, but he read books constantly and was deeply invested in his education.

Due to land title issues, Lincoln moved with his father and step-mother to Illinois in 1830 where he started in politics at 23 in the Illinois state legislature. His political career soon blossomed and he headed to the U.S. House of Representatives and then The White House for two terms as President.

In 1860 he became the sixteenth president of the United States after running on an anti-slavery platform, accomplishing some of the most important acts in U.S. history like holding the nation together during the Civil War and abolishing slavery.

To test your knowledge of Abe and learn some more fun facts, check out the crossword and photos below.