Robert Todd Lincoln Serving as U.S. Secretary of War

Robert Todd Lincoln was the eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. He was the only one of their four sons to survive into adulthood.

Robert Todd Lincoln served as Secretary of War under Presidents James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur from 1881 to 1885. During his tenure, he advocated for the protection of Native American lands, among other key initiatives. He later served as U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom from 1889 to 1893, helping to strengthen diplomatic ties between the United States and Great Britain.

Throughout his lifetime, Robert Todd Lincoln worked to preserve and protect his father’s legacy. He maintained control over Abraham Lincoln’s presidential papers and later willed them to the Library of Congress, stipulating that they remain closed until twenty-one years after his death—further demonstrating his commitment to safeguarding the Lincoln family’s history.

This original letter is signed by Robert Todd Lincoln in 1882, during his service as Secretary of War.

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