1816年，家人被赶出了居住的地方，他必须工作以抚养他们。
1818年，母亲去世。
1831年，经商失败。
1832年，竞选州议员但落选了!
1832年，工作也丢了，想就读法学院，但进不去。
1833年，向朋友借钱经商，但年底就破产了，接下 来他花了十六年，才把债还清。
1834年，再次竞选州议员 赢了!
1835年，订婚后即将结婚时，末婚妻却死了，因此他的心也碎了!
1836年，精神完全崩溃，卧病在床六个月。
1838年，争取成为州议员的发言人 没有成功。
1840年，争取成为选举人了 失败了!
1843年，参加国会大选 落选了!
1846年，再次参加国会大选 这次当选了!前往 华盛顿特区，表现可圈可点。
1848年，寻求国会议员连任失败了!
1849年，想在自己的州内担任土地局长的工作 被拒绝了!
1854年，竞选美国参议员 落选了!
1856年，在共和党的全国代表大会上争取副总统的 提名 得票不到一百张。
1858年，再度竞选美国参议员一一 再度落败。
1860年，当选美国总统。

In 1816, and his family were driven out of a place to live, he must work to support them
In 1818, the death of his mother
In 1831, the failure of the business
In 1832, the state election but lost in the elections!
In 1832, also lost, I would like to attend law school, but no access
In 1833, to borrow money from friends to do business, but at the end of the bankruptcy, he spent the next 16 years, only to pay off debt
In 1834, won re-election Members of the state!
In 1835, after the engagement is about to get married, the wife of the late marriage is dead, his heart broken!
In 1836, the spirit of complete collapse of the bed for six months
In 1838, the state's bid to become the spokesman did not succeed
In 1840, to become a voter failed!
In 1843, lost the election to participate in the Congress!
In 1846, once again participate in the parliamentary elections of the election! Go to Washington, DC, the remarkable performance
In 1848, members of Congress seeking re-election failed!
In 1849, would like to state in their own land as the Secretary of the work was rejected!
In 1854, lost a run for US Senate!
In 1856, the Republican National Convention's nomination for vice president less than 100 votes
In 1858, the United States Senate re-election once again defeated one by one
In 1860, was elected President of the United States