Famous Bipolar People

ABRAHAM LINCOLN - FAMOUS BIPOLAR LEADER

Early Life and Rise to Power

Abraham Lincoln wasn’t just the 16th President of the United States—he was that guy. Serving from 1861 to 1865, he basically held America together during the Civil War, freed the slaves, and still managed to drop some of the most iconic quotes in history.

 

Born on February 12, 1809, in a tiny log cabin in Hardin Country, Kentucky, Lincoln came from nothing and still pulled off the ultimate glow-up—self-taught lawyer, Illinois congressman, and eventually President. His whole vibe? Justice, unity, and standing up for what’s right. As he famously said: 

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Aka, teamwork makes the dream work.)

The Civil War and Lincoln's Leaderhip

Of course, being president during a civil war wasn’t all speeches and epic beard moments. The Union and the Confederacy were locked in a brutal conflict over issues like slavery and states’ rights, and Lincoln had to make some of the toughest calls in U.S. history. He dealt with major drama, political chaos, and personal heartbreak, but still got things done. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation, pushed for the Thirteenth Amendment, and basically redefined America. The war ultimately led to the Union’s victory in 1865, but at a tremendous cost—over 600,000 lives lost.

 

Lincoln’s leadership wasn’t just about giving orders; he was deeply involved in strategic decisions. He cycled through generals until he found the right ones, like Ulysses S. Grant, who could actually win battles. His famous Gettysburg Address in 1863 wasn’t just another speech—it was a mic-drop moment that reshaped how Americans saw democracy and sacrifice:

 

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

 

Sadly, he became the first president to be assassinated, but his legacy is untouchable. 

 

As historian David Herbert Donald put it:

“Lincoln is not just the greatest of all Presidents; he is the greatest of all Americans.” 

 

And honestly? He ate and left no crumbs.

Lincoln's Personal Struggles and Legacy

Lincoln’s life was basically a rags-to-riches story, but with a lot more drama, resilience, and legendary achievements. At 22, he left Kentucky and paddled his way to New Salem, Illinois, in a literal canoe—because why not? He landed a job as a messenger for a businessman, but let’s be real, that was just a side quest. His real passion? Learning.

 

Lincoln only had about 18 months of formal education, but that didn’t stop him. He was out here self-studying like a boss, reading everything he could get his hands on. No degree? No problem. He still managed to become a lawyer, a legislator, and eventually president —grinding his way to the top before it was cool.

 

His first attempt at politics? A total L. He ran for the Illinois General Assembly and lost. But instead of giving up, he came back stronger, joined the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War, and kept pushing forward. By 1832, he won an election and entered the state legislature—the first big step in his legendary political career.

The Gettysburg Address: A Speech for the Ages

One of Lincoln’s most iconic moments was the Gettysburg Address, delivered on November 19, 1863, at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. This short but powerful speech redefined the purpose of the war and cemented Lincoln’s legacy. Here’s what he said:

 

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

 

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Lincoln's Mental Health and Tragedies

Abraham Lincoln wasn’t just a top-tier president—he was also the blueprint for “high-functioning depression” before anyone had a name for it. Historians and psychologists have spent years analyzing his mental health, and while some have floated the idea that he had bipolar disorder, most experts agree that Honest Abe was dealing with major depressive disorder (or what they called “melancholy” back in the day). Battling depression and carrying the weight of a divided nation, he used jokes and anecdotes as a way to cope with stress and connect with people. 


Dude could roast and inspire in the same breath. He once said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Basically, the 1800s version of “Knowing when to stop talking.”


From a young age, Lincoln coped with the deaths of his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and later his beloved sister, Sarah. As an adult, he endured the loss of his first love, Ann Rutledge, which reportedly left him heartbroken. Even during his presidency, the tragic deaths of two of his sons, Eddie and Willie, weighed heavily on him. He also had to support his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, who also battled depression. It’s no exaggeration to sat Lincoln carried the weight of both his personal pain and a fractured nation on his shoulders. 


Joshua Wolf Shenk’s book Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness dives deep into this, arguing that Lincoln’s sadness wasn’t just a struggle—it was part of what made him an empathetic, resilient leader. The Atlantic even ran an article called Lincoln’s Great Depression, pointing out that he wasn’t shy about his emotions. He openly wept in public, recited sad poetry like a 19th-century emo kid, and talked about his overwhelming sadness in ways that line up with modern clinical depression. 


Now, some people have wondered if Lincoln had bipolar disorder, but here’s the thing: that diagnosis didn’t even exist back then, and there’s no solid proof that he ever had manic or hypomanic episodes. So, while he definitely had some of the deepest “sad boi” energy in presidential history, the general consensus is that he struggled with recurrent depression, not bipolar disorder.

 

At the end of the day, Lincoln is proof that even if you’re battling your own mental health struggles, you can still do something legendary. He ran a whole country, abolished slavery, and delivered some of the most iconic speeches of all time—all while dealing with some serious inner demons. If that’s not inspirational, I don’t know what is.

Fun Fact

Lincoln wasn’t just about politics. Lincoln was also a lowkey wrestling champ, with only one recorded loss. Dude had hands. But despite being strong enough to wreck people in the ring, he had a soft spot—he hated hunting and fishing because he couldn’t stand hurting animals. 

 

Not only that, Lincoln used to store important documents inside his tall hat. What an iconic behaviour!!

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