Home
The UIS Center for Lincoln Studies
Lincoln the Citizen, February 12, 1809 to March 4, 1861

Lincoln the Citizen, February 12, 1809 to March 4, 1861

Name: Lincoln the Citizen, February 12, 1809 to March 4, 1861
Author: Henry C. Whitney
ISBN: 9780252046384

The Complete Version

by Henry C. Whitney

Edited by Michael Burlingame

Introduction by Michael Burlingame

Published by: University of Illinois Press

Series: The UIS Center for Lincoln Studies

Imprint: University of Illinois Press

312 Pages, 156.00 × 235.00 × 33.00 mm

Hardcover
9780252046384
Published: April 2025

£32.00

Buy

Digital download
9780252047671
Published: April 2025

Description
Contents
Authors
Praise
Accessibility

Written by a longtime friend and ally, Lincoln the Citizen offers a rare character study and insightful biography of Lincoln before he became president. Michael Burlingame restores material cut by editors of the original 1907 publication to present Henry Clay Whitney’s work in full.

Whitney’s work reveals the legal and political spheres where Lincoln moved while providing eyewitness accounts and intimate stories shared by Lincoln himself. Whitney’s unique vantage point informs analyses of everything from Lincoln’s melancholic temperament to his colorful early career to views on his marriage and family life. Burlingame places Whitney’s singular contributions within Lincoln studies but also weighs criticisms of the book and disputes over what information the author may or may not have invented.

A restored edition of an invaluable memoir, Lincoln the Citizen presents a wealth of overlooked biographical detail by one of the people who knew Lincoln best.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Editorial Method

Chapter I. Lineage, Parentage, and Childhood

Chapter II. Youth

Chapter III. Lincoln as a Laborer

Chapter IV. The Romance of New Salem

Chapter V. Lincoln as a Storekeeper

Chapter VI. Soldier, Surveyor, and Postmaster

Chapter VII. Lincoln’s Early Love Romance

Chapter VIII. State Legislator

Chapter IX. Congressman

Chapter X. Citizen and Neighbor

Chapter XI. Lawyer

Chapter XII. Lincoln’s Religion

Chapter XIII. Lincoln’s Mental and Moral Natures

Chapter XIV. Free-Soil Advocate

Chapter XV. Attainment of the Presidency

Chapter XVI. Inauguration as President

Index

Henry Clay Whitney (1831–1905) was a lawyer and personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. His other books include Lincoln the President, March 4, 1861 to May 3, 1865. Michael Burlingame is a professor of history and the Lynn Distinguished Chairperson at the University of Illinois Springfield. He has written and edited twenty-one Lincoln books, among them The Black Man’s President: Abraham Lincoln, African Americans, and the Pursuit of Racial Equality and An American Marriage: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd.

“Whitney’s memoir is an extremely valuable view of Lincoln before Lincoln became the object of everyone’s view as the sixteenth president. This edition will clearly complement Burlingame’s other outstanding editions of Lincoln memoirists.”--Allen C. Guelzo, author of Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment

The publisher of this title has not provided any details on the accessibility features that may be included. You should contact them for more information.