Abraham Lincoln
February 12, 1809 - April 15, 1865

When Abraham Lincoln was a young man he ran for the Legislature in Illinois and was defeated.

He next entered business, failed and spent the next seventeen years paying up the debts of a worthless partner.

He was in love with a beautiful young woman, became engaged, then she died.

Later he married a woman who was a constant burden to him.

Entering politics again, he ran for Congress and was badly defeated.

He then tried to get an appointment to the United States Land Office but failed.

He became a candidate for the United States Senate and was badly defeated.

In 1856 he was a candidate for Vice President and again he was defeated.

In 1858 he was defeated by Douglas.

One failure after another—bad failures—great setbacks. In the face of this he eventually became one of the country's greatest men, if not the greatest.