Leading US historian to talk on slavery

. Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, will discuss the life of Abraham Lincoln and how slavery became a major political issue in the . Prof Foner, author of "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery”, will also examine how Lincoln emerged as a great leader. The lecture, which takes place on March 23, is free. The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slaver Wednesday 23 March 2011, 6pm - 7.15pm Appleton Tower (Lecture Theatre 4) - University and North America. The University has strong historical and research connections with North America. Two signatories of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon and Benjamin Rush, were Edinburgh graduates. Our alumni today include physicians, academics, lawyers, Congressmen, the co-founder of TiVo, a Vice-President of Chevron, an Emmy award-winning actor, a Group Vice President of Unilever and many more. Recent University honorary degree recipients include Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan and Neil Armstrong. The University welcomes over 1,700 North American students each year, one of the largest concentrations in the United Kingdom.