Abraham Lincoln’s First Federal Job

Posted on May 7, 2015

On May 7, 1833, Abraham Lincoln, at the age of 24, was appointed postmaster at New Salem, Illinois.  He served until the office was closed May 30, 1836.

This was Lincoln's first federal job.

The image of Abraham Lincoln carrying mail around in his stove top hat, all through his life and during his Presidency, began with his postmaster experience.  Mail arrived once a week.  If an addressee did not collect the mail, Lincoln delivered it personally – usually carrying the mail in his hat. Abraham Lincoln was also intimately associated with another post office, the Gentry Store Post Office, established June 1826 near present day Gentryville, Indiana.  There is evidence that Lincoln served as a clerk in the store where this post office was located, so he came to understand the services provided by the post office at a very early age.  This post office was also the place where Abraham likely sent and received his first letter and read his first newspaper.   Guest post from Paula Alexander from Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.