Tad Lincoln

Thomas "Tad" Lincoln was born on April 4, 1853, in Springfield, Illinois. He was the youngest son of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln. Tad's three older brothers were Robert (born 1843), Edward (born 1846), and William (born 1850). He was named after his paternal grandfather, Thomas Lincoln, and was nicknamed "Tad" by his father due to his small stature, large head, and infantile movements resembling a tadpole. His name has sometimes been incorrectly recorded as Thaddeus.

Tad Lincoln was born with a cleft lip and palate, which caused speech difficulties throughout his life. He had a lisp and spoke rapidly, often making his speech difficult to understand for those not close to him. His dental issues related to this condition affected his ability to chew, requiring specially prepared meals. During their time in Springfield, Lincoln and his brother Willie were known for their unruly behavior; Abraham Lincoln's law partner William Herndon noted that the boys were allowed considerable freedom, sometimes pulling books from shelves, overturning inkstands, and scattering papers, without disturbing Lincoln's composure.

Following Abraham Lincoln's election as president, Tad and Willie moved into the White House. They became playful companions and shared the residence with children Julia Taft brought along—her brothers Horatio "Bud" Taft Jr. and Halsey "Holly" Taft—who played with the Lincoln boys. In February 1862, both Tad and Willie contracted typhoid fever; Willie died on February 20, 1862, while Tad survived but mourned the loss of his brother and the other boys, Buddy and Holly, who had been sent away by his mother after Willie's death.

After Willie’s death, Lincoln and his wife became more permissive toward Tad, who was impulsive and unrestrained, often forgoing formal education in favor of playing freely. Tutors arranged for him at the White House frequently resigned due to his unruly conduct. Tad had free access to the White House grounds, and stories indicate that he interrupted meetings, collected animals, and charged visitors for viewing his father.

On April 14, 1865, Tad attended a performance at Grover's Theatre while his parents were at Ford's Theatre watching "Our American Cousin." During the performance, his father was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Upon hearing the news, Tad ran and screamed, announcing that his father had been killed. He was quickly returned to the White House, and that night, he was kept in the care of a doorman as his mother pleaded for him to see his father. Abraham Lincoln died early the next morning, on April 15, 1865.

After the assassination, Mary, Robert, and Tad Lincoln initially resided in Chicago. Robert later moved out, and Tad began attending school. Between 1868 and 1870, Tad and his family spent almost three years living in Europe, specifically in Germany and England. Lincoln experienced speech and language problems throughout his life, including challenges in school, where peers sometimes called him "Stuttering Tad." Despite this, he eventually learned to manage his speech impediment as a teenager.

Thomas "Tad" Lincoln died on July 15, 1871, at the age of 18, at the Clifton House hotel in Chicago. The causes of death have been recorded as tuberculosis, pleuritic attack, pneumonia, or congestive heart failure. His funeral was held at Robert Lincoln’s residence in Chicago. His body was transported to Springfield, Illinois, and interred in the Lincoln Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery alongside his father and brothers. Robert Lincoln accompanied the casket, but his mother was too distressed to travel.