He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. congressman from Illinois.
hiː wʌz sˈɛlfˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd ænd bɪkˌeɪm ɐ lˈɔɪɚ, wˈɪɡ pˈɑːɹɾi lˈiːdɚ, ˌɪlənˈɔɪ stˈeɪt lˈɛdʒɪslˌeɪɾɚ, ænd jˈuː.ˈɛs. kˈɑːŋɡɹəsmən fɹʌm ˌɪlənˈɔɪ.