The 16th President

Abraham Lincoln became the 16^th President of the United States on March 4^th 1861.

Abraham Lincoln was elected president on November 6^th 1860, between then and his inauguration on March 4^th 1861 four states had seceded from the Union.  Lincoln began traveling to Washington, DC by train on February 11^th 1861 with his wife Mary and their three sons.  During the next 10 days the train made numerous stops, ending with late night train through Baltimore, Maryland to avoid an assassination plot.

The outgoing President James Buchanan arrived at the Capital just before 1 pm.  Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B Taney administered the presidential oath of office to Abraham Lincoln shortly after one on March 4^th 1861.