Do you think that your life has had a lot of challenges and failures? Take a look at what Lincoln endured!
YEAR FAILURES or SETBACKS SUCCESSES
1832 Lost job
Defeated for state legislatureElected company captain of Illinois militia in Black Hawk War
1833Failed in businessAppointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois Appointed deputy surveyor of Sangamon County
1834 Elected to Illinois state legislature
1835Sweetheart died 1836Had nervous breakdownRe-elected to Illinois state legislature (running first in his district) Received license to practice law in Illinois state courts
1837 Led Whig delegation in moving Illinois state capital from Vandalia to Springfield Became law partner of John T. Stuart
1838Defeated for SpeakerNominated for Illinois House Speaker by Whig caucus Re-elected to Illinois House (running first in his district) Served as Whig floor leader
1839 Chosen presidential elector by first Whig convention Admitted to practice law in U.S. Circuit Court
1840 Argues first case before Illinois Supreme Court Re-elected to Illinois state legislature
1841 Established new law practice with Stephen T. Logan
1842 Admitted to practice law in U.S. District Court
1843Defeated for nomination for Congress
1844 Established own law practice with William H. Herndon as junior partner
1846 Elected to Congress
1848Lost renomination(Chose not to run for Congress, abiding by rule of rotation among Whigs.)
1849Rejected for land officerAdmitted to practice law in U.S. Supreme Court Declined appointment as secretary and then as governor of Oregon Territory
1854Defeated for U.S. SenateElected to Illinois state legislature (but declined seat to run for U.S. Senate)
1856Defeated for nomination for Vice President
1858Again defeated for U.S. Senate
1860 Elected President
There's always hope at the end of the rainbow!