The 16th President of the United States was Abraham Lincoln, who served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He is best known for leading the country during the American Civil War and for his efforts to end slavery, particularly through the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. He rose from humble beginnings to become a lawyer and politician, eventually being elected as the first Republican president. His leadership and vision helped preserve the Union and laid the groundwork for civil rights advancements in the United States.