President Abraham Lincoln was the key figure who shaped American history. He was chosen president on march4, 1861. Lincoln was born in Nolin Creek south of the city of Hodgeenville Kentucky in a log cabin. His father was Thomas Lincoln and mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln. The death of a close relative shaped his young life. His mother passed away in 1818 cause of a disease, Lincoln was nine years old. Lincoln attended a school as a kid. Never for more then a few months but he learned how to spell,some grammer and math. Lincoln developed a passion for reading. In 1834 Lincoln borrowed books from the library ,they talked about law, he read every single one and learned about law. On September 9,1836 he passed an exam that gave him the chance to get