- 1816: His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
- 1818: His mother died.
- 1831: Failed in business.
- 1832: Ran for state legislature - lost.
- 1832: Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
- 1833: Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
- 1834: Ran for state legislature again - won.
- 1835: Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
- 1836: Had a total nervous breakdown
- 1838: Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.
- 1840: Sought to become elector - defeated.
- 1843: Ran for Congress - lost.
- 1846: Ran for Congress again - won - went to Washington and did a good job.
- 1848: Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.
- 1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state - rejected.
- 1854: Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.
- 1856: Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention - lost
- 1858: Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost.
- 1860: Elected president of the United States.
Perseverance obviously pays off.
