That Time Abraham Lincoln Was Inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame

Happy "That Time..." Sunday! This one is a doozy. Yes, you read that title correctly. How much do you know about former President Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln painted by George Peter Alexander Healy (1989)

As you may or may not know, Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. Born in 1809, he was known for signing the Emancipation Proclamation. He led the United States through the Civil War. He also served in the military during the American Indian Wars, but that's maybe for another post if you're interested. He was part of three different political parties. He was then assassinated in 1965.

Most know Lincoln as a politician and a lawyer, but did you know he was also a wrestler? The man stood tall at 6'4. Allegedly, he only has lost one match.

NOW wrestling wasn't quite the spectacle we know it as today. There are no official records of Lincoln's matches. All that we know are from other people's accounts. At the age of 19, Lincoln defended his stepbrother's boat from hijackers by literally throwing them overboard.

At 29, he fought Jack Armstrong, who was thought of as the New Salem champion. Though the title of champion was loosely and informally given to Armstrong by his friends. Seems he may have just been the local "tough guy". It is unclear whether Lincoln or Armstrong won, because different accounts vary, but Lincoln did earn admiration from the locals after the fight.

Lincoln's alleged one loss comes from something he said, himself. So, for all we know that little bit might not even be true. Though, he was known for being "Honest Abe". Some of the things we know about his wrestling history came from Lincoln while he was campaigning for office.

But what about the title? Was Lincoln inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame? He was, but not for his wrestling prowess. Abraham Lincoln was given the "Outstanding Americans" award in 1992 by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The site states:

"The Outstanding American award is presented to those individuals who have used the disciplines of wrestling to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science, technology, business and industry, government and the military, and the arts and humanities."

So yes, Lincoln was a wrestler, but he was never formally recognized for his skills.

What other weird history would you like me to cover?

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