Abraham Lincoln A History Volume 1 Author:John G. Nicolay, John Hay Abraham Lincoln: A History Volume 1 was written by John G. Nicolay and John Hay. Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 ? April 15, 1865) was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination. As president, he led the country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis?the American Civil War?pres... more »erving the Union while ending slavery and promoting economic and financial modernization.« less