John Todd Stuart

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Historical Marker #2244 in Danville commemorates John Todd Stuart, who was Abraham Lincoln's first law partner.

When Abraham Lincoln moved to Springfield, Illinois, Kentuckian John Todd Stuart encouraged Lincoln to study law. He also became Lincoln's friend and first law partner.

Stuart was born in Fayette County on November 10, 1807. A cousin to Mary Todd Lincoln, he was the son of a Presbyterian minister and Mary's aunt. Stuart graduated from Centre College in 1826, and, two years later, became an attorney in Springfield, Illinois. He met Lincoln during the Black Hawk War, when both served in the Illinois militia. Stuart encouraged Lincoln to study law, lent Lincoln his law books, and the two men were law partners from 1837 to 1841.

Like Lincoln, Stuart served in the Illinois legislature and the U.S. Congress. Although he and Lincoln were friends, Stuart backed Constitutional Union candidate John Bell in the 1860 presidential election instead of Lincoln. In 1862, Stuart went to Congress as a Democrat, where he disagreed with several of Lincoln's wartime policies, including emancipation. Stuart saw the Civil War "as a mistake and crime on the part of the South" and thought that the "battle should have been fought at the ballot-box, under the Union and constitution." Despite his political disagreements with Lincoln, Stuart, friend of the president and cousin to the first lady, was a frequent visitor to the White House.

After Lincoln's death, Stuart was president of the Lincoln Monument Association in Illinois. He died in 1885.

The marker reads:

JOHN TODD STUART
1807-1885

Abraham Lincoln's friend and 1st
law partner was born on Nov. 10,
1807, in Fayette Co. The son of a
Presbyterian minister & Mary Todd
Lincoln's aunt, Stuart graduated
from Centre College in 1826. Two
years later he became a lawyer in
Springfield, IL. Met Lincoln when
an officer in Black Hawk War and
encouraged him to study law. Over.

Presented by the Ky A Lincoln Bicent Commission

JOHN TODD STUART
1807-1885

Lent Lincoln law books and they
were law partners, 1837-1841.
He was a Whig in IL legislature
and US Cong. Backed John Bell
over Lincoln in 1860 election and
went to Cong. as Democrat in 1862.
Was frequent White House visitor
despite disagreeing with some of
Lincoln's policies. Was pres. of
Natl. Lincoln Monument Assoc.

Presented by the Ky A Lincoln Bicent Commission

This marker was dedicated on October 27, 2007.