Chapter 3: Lincoln Becomes a Lawyer at 27

1836

Abe passes the bar in 1836 and moves east to Springfield, a city of some 12,000 residents and about to become the state capital as of 1839.

He serves as a junior partner in two established law firms between 1837 and 1841 – the first with John Stuart, whom he meets in the Blackhawk War, the second with Stephen Logan.

Both men are also engaged in politics, and Lincoln follows their lead, serving eight years in the Illinois State Legislature.