Lunch and Learn – A Sucker Whig in Connecticut’s Court: Abraham Lincoln Comes to New England

Virtual Presentation! Abraham Lincoln traveled to New England only twice. In 1848, he was an unknown “Sucker Whig” from the western frontier. In 1860, he was a political celebrity from the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. This virtual presentation by David J. Kent takes you along for the ride as we discover how Lincoln became the man we came to know, and how Connecticut helped Lincoln become president. David’s most recent book, Lincoln in New England: In Search of His Forgotten Tours, was published in March 2026. Get free tickets to receive the Zoom link! This program series is generously supported by Camille and Gregory F. Servodidio. About the speaker: David J. Kent is an Abraham Lincoln historian, former scientist, avid world traveler, and multi-book author, the most recent being Lincoln in New England: In Search of His Forgotten Tours. David is the Immediate Past President of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln Institute, and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Lincoln Forum. He is a frequent speaker on Abraham Lincoln topics and served as Master of Ceremonies for the Lincoln Memorial Centennial program in 2022. David has won numerous awards both for his scientific work and as an Abraham Lincoln historian. His books include Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, both of which were finalists for several book awards, as well as Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity, a worldwide bestseller translated into several languages.