Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States (1861-65), was also known by his aliases Sincere Abe, the Rail-Splitter, and the Great Freedom Fighter. He was known for keeping the Union together during the American Civil War and bringing about the emancipation of slaves in the country. He was born on February 12, 1809, close to Hodgenville, Kentucky, and passed on in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 1865.