• Inside the Lincoln Sitting Room

    Lincoln Home

    National Historic Site Illinois

Thomas "Tad" Lincoln

The youngest child of Mary and Abraham, Thomas, was born on April 4, 1853, in the Lincoln home in Springfield. He was named after Lincoln's father, Thomas, but, Abraham nicknamed him "Tad," short for "Tadpole," apparently because of his appearance as an infant. Tad was inventive in thinking up mischief and he became rather famous for his pranks, which he often carried out with the help of his older brother Willie.

Tad died on July 15, 1871, at the age of 18, about six years after the assassination of his father. His death was a great loss to his mother, because she had depended upon him for love, companionship, and understanding after Abraham's death.

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Photo of Robert Lincoln

Robert Lincoln was the only son of Abraham and Mary Lincoln to have children and grandchildren.  He had two daughters and one son.  The son died as a teenager.  The great-grandchildren of Abraham Lincoln lived full lives, but had no descendants. Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois