ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Nutty Productions Abraham Lincoln's Underground Wrestling Career
In the right corner, weighing 185 pounds and standing tall at six foot four, known as the Great Emancipator, the Rail Splitter, the Ancient One, Honest Abe—it’s Abraham Lincoln! But today, we’re not talking about his presidency. Instead, we’re diving into the surprising and lesser-known wrestling career of Abraham Lincoln.
When you think of Abraham Lincoln, you might picture a wise, humble man with a tall hat. But did you know he was also a skilled wrestler? According to stories, Lincoln had an impressive record of 300 wins and just one loss in his wrestling career. He even won the Sangamon County Wrestling Championship and was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame. While some of these tales might be exaggerated, there’s no doubt that Lincoln was a formidable competitor.
One of the most famous stories about Lincoln’s wrestling days happened in New Salem, Illinois. Lincoln worked at a general store and was known for his love of books and learning. However, his boss, Denton Offutt, couldn’t stop bragging about Lincoln’s height and strength. This caught the attention of Jack Armstrong, the town bully and leader of the Clary Grove Boys, a group known for causing trouble.
Armstrong challenged Lincoln to a wrestling match. At first, Lincoln refused, but eventually, he agreed. The match was set, and a crowd gathered to watch. Lincoln’s boss even bet $10 on him, which would be about $300 today!
The match was intense, with Lincoln and Armstrong circling each other. Different versions of the story exist, but in one, Armstrong tried to trip Lincoln, who then shook him by the neck. In another, Lincoln knocked him out cold. When the Clary Grove Boys tried to jump in, Lincoln offered to fight them one by one. Impressed by Lincoln’s courage, Armstrong admitted defeat, and the two became friends. Later, Lincoln even defended Armstrong’s son in a murder trial, proving his innocence using moon phases.
So, how does wrestling relate to being a president? In the 19th century, voters liked to see their leaders as brave and spirited. Lincoln’s wrestling skills helped shape his image as a strong and athletic frontier man. During the 1858 Senate race, his opponent, Stephen Douglas, mentioned Lincoln’s wrestling as a positive trait. This came back to help Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election, where his supporters highlighted his wrestling background.
Even though Lincoln was mostly undefeated, he did lose once during the Black Hawk War of 1832. He was thrown to the ground by a soldier named Hank Thompson. But like any great athlete, Lincoln’s ability to accept defeat gracefully added to his reputation as a humble sportsman.
Lincoln wasn’t the only president with a wrestling background. George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft are also honored in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. While we can’t know who would win in a wrestling match between these presidents, Lincoln’s skills and leadership qualities make him a strong contender.
What do you think? Which president would come out on top in a wrestling match? Let us know your thoughts and what other interesting history you’d like to learn about next!
Imagine you are living in the 19th century and tasked with creating a poster for Abraham Lincoln’s famous wrestling match against Jack Armstrong. Use your creativity to design a poster that includes details like the date, location, and any exciting taglines. Think about how you can capture the attention of the townspeople and make them want to attend the match!
Write a short story from the perspective of a spectator at Lincoln’s wrestling match with Jack Armstrong. Describe the atmosphere, the crowd’s reactions, and how you felt watching the match unfold. Use vivid details to bring the event to life and share your story with the class.
Research another president who had a wrestling background, such as Teddy Roosevelt or George Washington. Compare their wrestling achievements with those of Abraham Lincoln. Create a presentation or a poster that highlights the similarities and differences in their wrestling careers and how it influenced their leadership styles.
Participate in a class debate on the topic: “Do wrestling skills contribute to effective leadership?” Use examples from Abraham Lincoln’s life and other historical figures to support your argument. Consider how physical prowess and mental toughness can play a role in leadership.
Create a comic strip that illustrates the story of Lincoln’s wrestling match with Jack Armstrong. Use dialogue and illustrations to depict key moments of the match and the aftermath. Share your comic strip with the class and discuss how you chose to portray the events.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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In the right corner, weighing in at 185 pounds and standing tall at six foot four, known as the Great Emancipator, the Rail Splitter, the Ancient One, Honest Abe—it’s Abraham Lincoln! And he’s splitting more than just rails today. On Nutty History, we’re covering the impressive and lesser-known wrestling career of President Abraham Lincoln.
Before we get ready to rumble, be sure to like and subscribe to our channel to feed your history mania! Many images pop into mind when you bring up Honest Abe. While much of that imagery is probably of a soft-tempered, humble, top-hatted bookworm, he was also a skilled wrestler and a formidable competitor.
According to legend, Abraham Lincoln boasts a 300-1 record throughout his wrestling career, winning the Sangamon County Wrestling Championship and eventually being inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame. While his Hall of Fame status is verified, many of his wrestling days are likely a mix of truth and tall tales. Speaking of tall, Lincoln towered over most of his opponents with a frame of six foot four and a weight of 185 pounds, making him a lean and mean fighting machine.
While some might expect the famed president to remain mild-mannered in the ring, he apparently knew how to bring the thunder. After winning a particularly heated match, he supposedly yelled out to the crowd, “I’m the big buck of this lick! Any of you want to try it? Come on and wet your horns!”
Much like George Washington and the cherry tree, one of Abe’s tussles has become a famous story of frontier folklore. When he was a young man living in New Salem, Illinois, Lincoln worked at a small-town general store. He was more interested in book learning than street smarts, teaching himself history and law. However, his boss, Denton Offutt, found Lincoln’s 6-4 stature impressive and bragged about the strength of his young employee around town.
Word eventually reached the town bully, Jack Armstrong, the leader of New Salem’s Clary Grove Boys. This gang of miscreants would prank any new settler in town by forcing them into a barrel, nailing it shut, and rolling it down a hill. Upon hearing the boasts about lanky Lincoln, Armstrong challenged him to a duel. Initially, Lincoln refused, but peer pressure eventually got to him, and he agreed to the match. After all, what else were these people supposed to do for fun in the middle of the prairie?
The fight was set, a crowd gathered, and bets were placed. Lincoln’s boss even allegedly bet $10 on him winning, which would be about $300 today—no pressure! Lincoln insisted on a match of side holds wrestling, meaning the goal was not to pin your opponent but to literally throw them.
The two men began to circle each other. There are several varying accounts of what actually happened that day. In one version, Armstrong tried to trip Lincoln, who then went into a rage and shook his opponent by the neck. In another account, he knocked him out cold. Another popularized part of the story is that the rest of the Clary Grove Boys jumped into the ring when they saw their leader’s impending defeat. Lincoln instead offered to fight them each individually, and Armstrong, impressed by his opponent’s valor, admitted his loss. The two then became the best of friends, and Lincoln later defended Jack Armstrong’s son in a murder trial free of charge. The defendant was found not guilty after Lincoln disproved witness testimony based on moon phases.
How does a person’s wrestling capabilities relate to their potential as president? This was a genuine curiosity because it apparently mattered to 19th-century voters. Abe’s grappling career was first mentioned in the 1858 Senate race. Lincoln’s opponent, Stephen Douglas, referred to his wrestling as an amusing passage, claiming he could beat any of the boys at wrestling. These somewhat positive comments about his rival later came back to bite Douglas in the 1860 presidential election. Lincoln was again running against Douglas, this time for all the marbles, and his supporters used his image as a wrestler to promote him as a sporty and athletic frontier man. At the time, it was important for voters to see their presidents as courageous and spirited, and Lincoln’s wrestling skills likely checked those boxes.
Regardless of how much weight was put on his wrestling, this match went to Lincoln, and he became the 16th president of the United States. Even the best fall down sometimes—or should we say get picked up and thrown? Despite his reigning champion status, Abe did have one blip on his mostly undefeated record. While a member of the Illinois Volunteers during the Black Hawk War of 1832, he wrestled a soldier named Hank Thompson in a regimental championship and was thrown to the ground, possibly twice in a row.
Like any great athlete, Abe’s ability to lose was another important part of his popular reputation. As historian David Fleming put it, he was a proud competitor but a humble sportsman. When his wrestling skills diminished, Lincoln’s leadership qualities emerged. Perhaps there’s some truth to the idea that leading and wrestling go hand in hand, as several other presidents, including George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft, are honored alongside Lincoln in the Outstanding American wing of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
While we can’t see the outcome of this theoretical bracket, we’re putting our money on Abe as the top dog. Let us know in the comments which president you think would emerge victorious, along with what other nutty history you’d like to hear about next!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a respectful tone throughout.
Wrestling – A sport in which two people try to throw each other to the ground – In ancient Greece, wrestling was a popular sport that was even included in the Olympic Games.
Lincoln – The 16th President of the United States, known for leading the country during the Civil War and abolishing slavery – Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address during the American Civil War.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs – Learning about history helps us understand how past events shape our present and future.
Match – A contest or competition between two or more parties – The theater hosted a match of wits between two famous playwrights, each trying to outdo the other with their storytelling.
President – The elected head of a republican state – George Washington was the first President of the United States, setting many precedents for future leaders.
Strength – The quality or state of being physically strong – The strength of the Roman army was one of the key factors in the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Courage – The ability to do something that frightens one; bravery – Joan of Arc showed great courage by leading the French army to victory during the Hundred Years’ War.
Fame – The state of being known or talked about by many people, especially for notable achievements – William Shakespeare achieved fame for his plays, which are still performed around the world today.
Leadership – The action of leading a group of people or an organization – Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership during the Civil Rights Movement inspired many to fight for equality and justice.
Athlete – A person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise – In ancient Rome, athletes competed in the Colosseum to entertain the public and demonstrate their skills.
