[Abraham Lincoln, candidate for U.S. president, half-length portrait, looking left, May 20,1860]

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War—its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy. "I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends."

Since his death in 1865, Abraham Lincoln has been an iconic American figure depicted in a wide range of media forms including printed materials, sculpture, alternative timelines, animation, documentaries, small cameos, and many fictionalized interpretations. Lincoln's unique physical appearance, including his tall and lanky stature and his distinctive beard, made him a popular subject for portrait artists. Over time, the abundance of portraits of Lincoln has contributed to his iconic status and has helped to ensure that his memory and legacy are preserved. This Abraham Lincoln portraits dataset was generated using media from the world's largest public domain source Picryl.com.