On This Day 150 Years Ago: A Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln
On February 5, 1865, 150 years ago Thursday, President Abraham Lincoln, age 55, sat in the Washington, D.C. studio of photographer Alexander Gardner, posing for a portrait photo. The photograph was to be used by painter Matthew Wilson as the basis for an official portrait, rather than have the busy President sit in person for many sessions. At this point in Lincoln's presidency, the worst of the Civil War was in the past, the end of the conflict in sight. However, two months after this photograph was taken, Lincoln was assassinated, shot by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865.
Read more
Hints:
View this page full screen.
-
![]()
Read moreDetail of a photo provided by the Library of Congress, featuring President Abraham Lincoln, seated and holding his spectacles and a pencil on February 5, 1865. #
Library of Congress/Alexander Gardner/AP -
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.