Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, also known as “Honest Abe,” was the 16th president of the United States from 1861 to 1865 and led the nation through some difficult times. Lincoln is well known for preserving the Union during the Civil War and issuing the momentous Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which led to slavery being abolished and changed the status of enslaved African Americans in the South to free people.
He was also responsible for the 13th amendment to the constitution which officially made slavery illegal. Lincoln’s life ended tragically in 1865 when he was assassinated, and sadly he never got the chance to see the impact of his work, but his legacy lives on and he is widely considered the most beloved, admired and all-around greatest president in the history of the United States.
George Washington
The most famous founding father and a familiar face from the $1 bill, George Washington was America’s very first president. While in office from 1789 to 1797 he played an integral part in the foundation of the United States government, implementing a tax system and establishing the national bank.
He also served as commander in chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and was ranked as the 2nd best president in United States history.
Washington’s Teeth
George Washington suffered from dental issues from a young age. He lost his first tooth at the age of 24 and had a full set of dentures by the age of 57. While many believe that George Washington’s teeth were made of wood, that is simply not true, but his dentures were still pretty frightening.
They were constructed from animal teeth, lead, screws, gold wire, bone and even ivory from a hippopotamus!
Lincoln’s Assassination
On the evening of April 14th, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was attending a special presentation of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. Famous actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth came up behind him with a gun.
He shot and killed the president, who only five days earlier had ended the Civil War.
Donald Trump
When Donald J. Trump won the presidential election in 2016, many were elated, while an equal number were devastated. His race for the presidency opposite Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, was definitely never before seen in American politics.
Trump is the first American president in history with no previous experience in government or the military.