Abraham Lincoln (1809 – April 15, 1865) became the 16th President of the United States when the former Whig was elected as America’s first Republican President in 1861.

NOTE: Thomas Jefferson was called a Republican when opposing Hamilton and the Federalists in early America, however, he and Madison ran as Democratic-Republicans. So by party name the early Democratic-Republicans are a precursor to the Democratic party, while the opposition party is a precursor to the Republican party. This becomes complicated only when we consider that early Republicans were the party of the North, bankers, and trade while the early Democrats were the pro-south farmers. See the parties switched platforms and members and Lincoln the Republican.