My name is David J. Kent. I am an Abraham Lincoln historian, a former career scientist, and a global traveler. Here is me in a nutshell:
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- Author of 7 books on Abraham Lincoln, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison
- Author of chapters in 3 additional books
- Over 200 articles in popular and scholarly magazines, journals, and newspapers
- Over 200 presentations to a variety of interest groups
- Editor of over 20 scholarly papers and dissertations
- Contributed over 1,500 posts for a variety of blogs
- Written hundreds of technical scientific reports
- Recipient of around 50 awards and recognitions in both my scientific and Lincoln historian careers
- World traveler to nearly 90 countries and territories (with more on the way)
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- Past President for the Lincoln Group of DC and previously for 4 scientific organizations
- Currently on the Advisory Boards of three Abraham Lincoln organizations
- Current Lincolniana Editor for the Lincoln Herald
- Chairmanships for more than a dozen conferences and committees
- Dozens of appearances on C-SPAN, local and national broadcasts, podcasts, radio, and other virtual and in-person media
I was the primary organizer and served as Master of Ceremonies for the Lincoln Memorial Centennial program in 2022. I also was the keynote speaker and presented the Gettysburg Address at the 2024 Lincoln Birthday Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial. I have spoken at the dedications of other memorials and somber events.
My newest book is Lincoln, The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America. You can purchase it at any bookseller nationwide, as well as in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Signed copies can be ordered here. Here are two of the many advance praises for the book:
This is the first in-depth study of Abraham Lincoln’s interest in technology and science and how that interest impacted his life and his Presidency. As Kent demonstrates, Lincoln was a catalyst for some of that transformation wrought by science and technology.
– Marc Rothenberg, Ph.D., Editor, The Papers of Joseph Henry, and past Historian, National Academy of Sciences
David J. Kent, a man of science and of history, has skillfully combined his knowledge of both to write a masterful treatise on Lincoln’s scientific mind.
– Edward Steers, Jr., Ph.D., author of Blood on the Moon and Getting Right With Lincoln.
I also have two other books on Abraham Lincoln – Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate. Check them out here.
I’ve also written books about famous scientists – Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World, plus an e-book: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of His Time.
[Photo of David J. Kent at Lincoln Memorial Centennial courtesy of Bruce Guthrie]
Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America is available at booksellers nationwide.
Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon if you like the book.
You also follow my author page on Facebook.
David J. Kent is Immediate Past President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.
His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity andEdison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.
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Hi David! I couldn’t figure out how else to get a hold of you! Please drop me an email as I have a family question to ask you! Looks like you are doing well!
Well, DJK, sounds sort of fascinating: Writer and Scientist! Sort of like my “cup of tea” without the acclaims of course. I’ve dreamt up a “prescient” energy conversion form over eons now, and I believe I am somewhere on the verge of presenting our world something of a breakthrough in the the most reliable and the most feasible clean energy system that will have application for all manners of main energy conversion system imaginable. Just consider a set of new energy algorithms that can, at one and the same time, “power” automotive technology, aeronautic systems and marine transport systems. Currently, apart from the conventional fuel combusting systems, none of the vaunted traditional renewables have shown potential to deliver such dynamic, all-round operability! (You should know this, as a scientist!)
This is where I stand in my humble independent endeavors. And I’m sort of like completing some operational blueprints that others might be able to take some interesting peek at.
Who knows, perhaps we could begin some networking – if we can find the time.
A thousand cheers!
Hey David,
Are you planning to speak and present at the Tesla Tech conference in July, in New Mexico?
Hi JC – It’s not on my calendar at the moment. Can you send me some more information?
Shoot me an email at hayes@aquasurvey.com
Cheers, Ken
Just emailed you after finding this comment in my spam filter today.
David, I am not sure whether I managed to contact you via LinkedIn. Knowing of your interest in Lincoln having just read your biography of Tesla. My great uncle Christopher Newman Hall stayed with Lincoln at the White House for 3 years and co-wrote his address to Congress with Beecher. He was known in the US as “The Protestant Divine” as he was fiercely anti slavery. There are lots of other family stories I would like to share with you. Could you contact me at : john_sutton@btconnect.com or through LinkedIn.
I was not aware of Mr. Hall’s presence at the White House, nor that Lincoln and Beecher co-wrote a speech to Congress. Do you have any further information on these?
I am reading Tesla: Wizard of Electricity and thought you might like another musical reference to Tesla. Allan Holdsworth, one of the world’s most respected and influential guitarists, released an album in 1992 called Wardenclyffe Tower. Poke around online and you’ll find the title track on youtube. Thanks, Joe
Thanks for the lead on the Wardenclyffe Tower album, Joe. I hope you like the book!
Great site Joe. I’ll get that book! I like the Lincoln tie-in. I too am a great fan of The Man! Stop by my site & read some of his perspectives, look around, & please leave suggestions! thelogcabinsage.com
Thanks. I’ll take a look at your site.
David, sorry about the “Joe” salutation…must have been thinking coffee…lol. Anyway, do I have your permission to list your site on the Books and Sites page of my blog thelogcabinsage.com ? Either way is fine. Have a good week. Mac
By all means, I would be happy for you to list my site on your Books and Sites page. Thank you!
Thanks David! It’s done. Have a good week.
has anyone ever filed the freweedon of in formation act and find why the FBI stolen from
Tesla papers??
Hello Dr Kent,
I read your previous article “No Monkeys in Australia” and found it very important and it goes very well with what Michael Heads wrote in his article “Evolution and biogeography of primates: a new model based on molecular phylogenetics, vicariance and plate tectonics” [doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2009.00411.x].
Thank you for writing such an interesting article.
regards,
Sibnarayan
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So, I once read something that suggested that the Tunguska Event was actually caused by Wardenclyffe. Some kind of broadcast power event. I would not know if that is even possible, but, maybe you know? Tesla is fascinating, I will be looking up your books. Also, I have long contended that the single greatest mishap in our history was Lincoln’s assassination. I often wonder what our country would be like if he had been able to go through with his plans for reconciling the South and the North. So, I am interested in your Lincoln book as well. Thanks!
Hi David I sent you an email two days ago regarding a photo of Abraham Lincoln. I was wondering if you had received it yet? Hope to hear back from you soon. Thank you and have a great day.
Makayla