Historical Figure
Tad Lincoln
1853–1871
Fourth son of President Abraham Lincoln (1853–1871)
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Biography
Thomas "Tad" Lincoln was the fourth and youngest son of the 16th president of the United States Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln.
Timeline
The story of Tad Lincoln, told in moments.
Born Thomas Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Fourth son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. His father nicknamed him "Tad" because as a baby he wiggled like a tadpole. Born with a cleft palate that gave him a lisp all his life.
Moved into the White House at age eight. He and his brother Willie turned the mansion into a playground. Tore through rooms, interrupted cabinet meetings, and once fired a toy cannon at the door during a state dinner. Lincoln indulged it all.
His brother Willie died of typhoid fever at the White House. Tad was devastated. Mary Lincoln never fully recovered. Tad became his father's constant companion, often falling asleep in Lincoln's office.
Was watching a play at a different theater when his father was shot at Ford's Theatre. An actor came onstage and announced the president had been shot. Tad screamed, "They killed Papa." He was 12.
Artifacts (6)
President Lincoln, General Grant, and Tad Lincoln at a Railway Station, from The Century Magazine, November 1887
Winslow Homer, born Boston, MA 1836-died Prout's Neck, ME 1910
an orphan [who] seemed to be neglected in many ways
tion, but Hoover disliked the many chores assigned to him and often resented Minthorn. One observer described Hoover as "an orphan [who] seemed to be neglected in many ways". Hoover attended Friends...
probably the only man living who has privately (i.e., without holding office) ne...
upplies to the people of German-occupied Northern France in 1915. In 1926, American diplomat Walter Page described Hoover as "probably the only man living who has privately (i.e., without holding...
I did not realize it at the moment, but on August 3, 1914, my career was over fo...
lson administration, took charge of the distribution of relief to Americans in Europe. Hoover later stated, "I did not realize it at the moment, but on August 3, 1914, my career was over forever. I...
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