Whom did Lincoln admire?

[LincolnMan]

Living or dead- before Lincoln became president. Who did he admire? Do you think at least 10 could be named?

[mbgross]

Great question. Here is my list of 10:

Henry Clay
Daniel Webster
Alexander Stephens
Elijah Lovejoy
David Davis
George Washington
Winfield Scott
Edward Baker
William Knox
David Locke

Mike Gross

[LincolnMan]

Great list. Others please?
I think it’s very important for us who study Lincoln to know who he admired as his thinking must have been influenced by them.

[RJNorton]

Mike's list is excellent. I would add Shakespeare.

[Gene C]

I might add Bowling Green

[AussieMick]

I had thought of Shakespeare as well. And Robert Burns.

Others : Garibaldi. Ethan Allen.
Harriet Beecher Stowe. (Even if he didnt say "so you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war." ... he was obviously aware of the world-reaching impact of the enormous bedseller)

Henry Ward Beecher ( Lincoln apparently said of him, "no one in history had so productive a mind." And sent him to the UK to speak and undermine support of the South ... He was anti-Catholic and involved in an adultery scandal after the War)

[Rob Wick]

Herndon notwithstanding, I think Lincoln sincerely admired the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson if not Jefferson's private foibles. As for the other founders I would put Thomas Paine higher than many others.

Best
Rob

[Anita]

Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln

[LincolnMan]

Herndon notwithstanding, I think Lincoln sincerely admired the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson if not Jefferson's private foibles. As for the other founders I would put Thomas Paine higher than many others.

Best
Rob

Rob:
I thought that Jefferson would have been on the list due to the Declaration. Thanks for confirming Jefferson. I agree that Paine is another one.

[davg2000]

John Stuart and/or Stephen Trigg Logan. (Maybe Logan a bit more than Stuart?)

[LincolnMan]

I would also add David “Davy” Crockett.

[LincolnMan]

I wonder if Lincoln also admired Daniel Boone? I don’t recall reading either such if he did.

[mbgross]

Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln

Good answer. I would definitely include her.

[RJNorton]

I wonder if Lincoln also admired Daniel Boone? I don’t recall reading either such if he did.

Bill, I checked the Collected Works, and I could find only one mention of Daniel Boone. Here is a small part of a letter Lincoln wrote to Samuel Haycraft:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hon. Saml. Haycraft Springfield, Ills.
Dear Sir: May 28. 1860

Your recent letter, without date, is received. Also the copy of your speech on the contemplated Daniel Boone monument, which I have not yet had time to read.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The fact that Lincoln had not yet read Haycraft's speech on the Boone monument could mean absolutely nothing. Or I suppose it could mean Lincoln had no real interest in the topic.

I also looked in other sources, such as the Fehrenbachers' book, and drew a blank on Lincoln ever expressing an admiration of Daniel Boone.

[LincolnMan]

I wonder if Lincoln also admired Daniel Boone? I don’t recall reading either such if he did.

Bill, I checked the Collected Works, and I could find only one mention of Daniel Boone. Here is a small part of a letter Lincoln wrote to Samuel Haycraft:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hon. Saml. Haycraft Springfield, Ills.
Dear Sir: May 28. 1860

Your recent letter, without date, is received. Also the copy of your speech on the contemplated Daniel Boone monument, which I have not yet had time to read.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The fact that Lincoln had not yet read Haycraft's speech on the Boone monument could mean absolutely nothing. Or I suppose it could mean Lincoln had no real interest in the topic.

I also looked in other sources, such as the Fehrenbachers' book, and drew a blank on Lincoln ever expressing an admiration of Daniel Boone.

Thank you Roger for that search. My guess is he admired Boone. As we know, Lincoln’s ancestors journeyed with Boone through the Cumberland Gap heading into Kentucky.