Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[RJNorton]

I have a question for everyone no matter where they might stand on the issues being discussed in this thread. It relates to a question students have written me about for the past 18 years. The students want to know about Abraham Lincoln's 1836 nervous breakdown. Most of the time this question does not arise from their own reading; it comes from what their teacher taught them. The teacher is mentioning this to teach the class that problems can be overcome and success can still come in life. Many times the teacher has taught the class that the 1836 breakdown was the result of Ann Rutledge's death (which happened in 1835, not 1836).

This "fact" is on many web pages, too. Here are just two examples:

Here ("Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months")
and
Here

I have researched 1836 and simply cannot find that Abraham Lincoln had a nervous breakdown. I write back to these students and tell them I cannot find specific data that supports the statement that Mr. Lincoln had an 1836 nervous breakdown.

Does anyone know what I am missing? Or am I right - Mr. Lincoln did not have a nervous breakdown in 1836? Where does this come from? Anyone know? Many thanks for any possible input on this "mystery."