Secretary of State William H. Seward and British foreign minister Lord Lyons visit President Lincoln and present a "Royal letter announcing the death of . . . Queen [Victoria's] mother, the Duchess of Kent." Later, Lincoln writes to Queen Victoria and expresses "my sincere condolence, with that of the whole American people, in this great bereavement." Lincoln asks "God to have Your Majesty and your whole Royal Family constantly under his gracious protection and care." Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria, 26 June 1861, CW, 4:417; New York Daily Tribune, 27 June 1861, 5:1; New York Times, 27 June 1861, 1:3.

Receives honorary degree of LL.D. from Columbia College; Dr. Francis Lieber, president of Columbia, presents award personally. National Republican (Washington, DC), 27 June 1861, 2:1; New York Tribune, 27 June 1861; New York Times, 27 June 1861.

[On July 4, 1860, Lincoln received his first honorary degree, LL.D. from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.]