Robert Todd Lincoln

Robert Todd Lincoln (August 1, 1843 – July 26, 1926) was an American lawyer and businessman. He was the eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and the only one of their four children to reach the age of 19. Known for his successful career, Robert Lincoln worked as a business lawyer and also served as United States Secretary of War from 1881 to 1885 and as the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain from 1889 to 1893.

Born in Springfield, Illinois, Robert Lincoln graduated from Harvard College and later served as a captain in the Union army during the final days of the American Civil War under General Ulysses S. Grant. After the war, he married Mary Eunice Harlan, and they had three children together. He studied law in Chicago and built a successful practice, representing large companies and becoming wealthy.

In addition to his government roles under presidents James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison, Robert Lincoln became general counsel of the Pullman Company. After the founder George Pullman passed away in 1897, Lincoln took over as the company’s president. He later served as chairman of the board until 1924. In his later years, he lived in Washington, D.C., and Manchester, Vermont, where his home, Hildene, became a historic site. He took part in the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922 and passed away in 1926 at the age of 82, buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life

Robert Todd Lincoln was born in Springfield, Illinois on August 1, 1843, to Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. He had three younger brothers named Edward, William, and Tad. His father was already well known in politics even before Robert was born.

Robert tried to enter Harvard College in 1859 but did not pass most of the test. He went to Phillips Exeter Academy to get ready for college and later graduated from Harvard in 1864. While at Harvard, he was vice-president of the Hasty Pudding Club and joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Civil War years

Robert Lincoln went to Harvard Law School but left in January 1865 to join the Union Army near the end of the Civil War. His father, President Lincoln, had encouraged his mother to let Robert serve. Robert became an assistant adjutant with the rank of captain and worked on the staff of Ulysses S. Grant. He was popular with his fellow officers and did not take special treatment because he was the president’s son.

Robert was present when General Robert E. Lee surrendered, ending the war. He left the army in June 1865 and returned to civilian life. Later, he studied law in Chicago and became a lawyer. In 1893, Harvard gave him an honorary degree.

Family

On September 24, 1868, Robert Todd Lincoln married Mary Eunice Harlan, the daughter of Senator James Harlan and Ann Eliza Peck from Mount Pleasant, Iowa. They had three children: two daughters and one son, named Mary "Mamie" Lincoln, Abraham "Jack" Lincoln II, and Jessie Harlan Lincoln.

The family often left the busy city for the cooler air of Mount Pleasant, where they spent summers at the Harlan home in the 1880s. The Harlan-Lincoln home, built in 1876, is still standing today. It was donated by Mary Harlan Lincoln to Iowa Wesleyan College in 1907 and now serves as a museum with items from the Lincoln family and from Abraham Lincoln’s time as president.

Robert’s children had their own families later on.

Politics

Secretary of War (1881–1885)

From 1876 to 1877, Robert Lincoln worked as a local leader in South Chicago, which later became part of the city of Chicago. In 1877, he turned down a job offer from President Rutherford B. Hayes. Later, President James Garfield chose him to be the Secretary of War. Robert Lincoln held this job from 1881 to 1885, working under both Garfield and Chester A. Arthur.

During his time in this role, there were some troubles in Cincinnati in 1884. People were upset about a court decision, and it led to some unrest. Troops were sent to help bring things back under control.

After his time as Secretary of War, Robert Lincoln helped start a school for boys in need in Chicago in 1887.

Republican politics

From 1884 to 1912, people sometimes talked about Robert Lincoln as a possible candidate for president or vice president of the United States. But he always said he wasn’t interested and wouldn’t accept such a role. In 1888, his picture was even put on some cards showing possible presidents.

Minister to Great Britain

Robert Lincoln served as the United States’ representative in Great Britain from 1889 to 1893, during President Benjamin Harrison’s time in office. After this, he went back to working as a lawyer.

Later life and career

Robert worked hard to protect his father's memory, even disagreeing with a writer who was writing about his father. He also had many jobs, including working for a train company and becoming its leader many years later.

He loved astronomy and built his own observatory with a special telescope. Robert also enjoyed playing golf and was president of a golf club. His last public event was in 1922 when he helped celebrate a memorial for his father in Washington, D.C.

Presence at assassinations

Robert Lincoln was nearby during three important moments when presidents were hurt. He was close to the White House when his father was hurt, and later he saw when another president was hurt at a train station. He was also close by when a third president was hurt at a big event. Because of these events, Robert decided not to attend any more similar gatherings.

Death

Robert Todd Lincoln passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Vermont called Hildene on July 26, 1926, when he was 82 years old. His doctor said he died from a health issue related to aging.

His body was first kept at Dellwood Cemetery until it was later placed at Arlington National Cemetery in a special stone box made by artist James Earle Fraser. He is buried there with his wife Mary and their son Abraham II, who had passed away earlier in London at the age of 16.

Legacy

Robert Todd Lincoln was remembered by some as a sad and lonely person. He once said that people wanted him only because he was President Abraham Lincoln’s son, not because they truly wanted him in those jobs. Even so, he took many important positions and became a rich lawyer and businessman.

People who knew him had different opinions about his personality. Some thought he was serious and distant, while others found him friendly and funny. Robert Lincoln lived a long life and was the last person from important government groups during the Garfield and Arthur administrations, as well as the last person who saw General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. A part of the ocean near Greenland is called the Lincoln Sea in his honor. His last known descendant passed away many years later.

In popular culture

Robert Todd Lincoln has been shown as a character in many movies, TV shows, and plays.

Films

• Edwin Mills in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (2012)

Television

• Kieran Mulroney in Tad (1995)
• Gregory Cooke in the miniseries Lincoln (1988)
• Wil Wheaton in The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998)
• Brett Dalton in Killing Lincoln (2013)
• Neal Bledsoe in Timeless (2016)
• James Carroll Jordan in Sandburg's Lincoln (1974), with Hal Holbrook as Abraham Lincoln.
• Nick Robinson in History of the World, Part II (2023)
• Maxwell Korn in Manhunt (2024)
• Kyle Soller in Death by Lightning (2025)

Stage plays

• Michael Cristofer in The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1976). The Last of Mrs. Lincoln, starring Julie Harris, was also seen on television, on PBS as part of a series called Hollywood Television Theater.