Abraham Lincoln Was a Licensed Bartender

Long before he saved the Union, Abraham Lincoln was slinging drinks in New Salem, Illinois. In 1833, Lincoln and a partner opened a general store that sold alcohol. Lincoln obtained a liquor license and served as bartender. The business failed within a year, leaving Lincoln with debts he spent years paying off. But the experience gave him stories to tell on the campaign trail, including one about a customer who drank so much he could not find the door.