Lincoln Portrait, 1860
This image shows Abraham Lincoln in 1860. It was taken in New York on February 27 of that year. Lincoln had come to New York to deliver a speech at Cooper Union, a well-known forum for political speakers. This appearance represented an excellent opportunity for Lincoln, known mostly for his well spoken, if unsuccessful, challenge to Stephen Douglas in 1858, to make himself known in the east. As such, it represented one of the opening moves of Lincoln's dark-horse candidacy for the Republican nomination.
Image source: University of Chicago
©Copyright 2002 Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project