President of the United States/Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln came from humble beginnings. He was born in a log cabin in Kentucky in 1809 and was self-educated. Despite not receiving any formal educational degrees, he became a lawyer in Illinois. He was elected to the House of Representatives for one term, serving from 1847-49. He ran for senate against his rival Stephen Douglas. Despite losing the election, his grueling debates with Douglas helped him attain a masterful reputation.