Failed in business in 1831         

Defeated for Legislature in 1832

Second failure in business in 1833

Suffers nervous breakdown in 1836

Defeated for Speaker in 1838

Defeated for Congress in 1843

Defeated for Congress in 1848

Defeated for Senate in 1855

Defeated for Vice President in 1856

Defeated for Senate in 1858

Elected President in 1860!!!