George Washington and Abraham Lincoln both made proclamations to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, it was not a fixed holiday with states celebrating on different days. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day during the Civil War, on October 3, 1863.
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_US_president_made_Thanksgiving_a_national_holiday
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the proclamation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. It didn't see success until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation. So it was Lincoln who resumed the tradition.
http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/national_holiday.htm
He made the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day. Congress would riot make Thanksgiving a national holiday until 1870. The first official US holidays were declared by Congress on June 28, 1870. New Years Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day were all declared holidays in the first act.
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_US_president_made_Thanksgiving_a_national_holiday
It has been celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens, to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
several Presidents for the proclamation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. It didn't see success until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation.   Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays.     .
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_US_president_made_Thanksgiving_a_national_holiday
Thanksgiving was also celebrated nationally in 1789, after a proclamation by George Washington. As a federal and public holiday in the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year. Together with Christmas and New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader holiday season. The event that Americans commonly call the First Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
So Thanksgiving … was made a holiday through the national proclamation of 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln [February 12, 1809-April 15, 1865]. The Lincoln Proclamation of Thanksgiving Day was issued on October 3, 1863.
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_US_president_made_Thanksgiving_a_national_holiday
Learn how Thanksgiving became a national holiday, and the first proclaimation by President George Washington. The Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November. The holiday was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941). Earlier it was the last Thursday in November as was designated by the former President Abraham Lincoln. But sometimes the last Thursday would turn out to be the fifth Thursday of the month.
http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/national_holiday.htm
Since being fixed at the fourth Thursday in November by law in 1941, the holiday in the United States can occur on any date from November 22 to 28. When it falls on November 22 or 23, it is not the last Thursday, but the penultimate Thursday in November.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
what us president made thanksgiving a holiday
Abraham Lincoln was the President who made Thanksgiving a holiday. Abraham Lincoln a United State's president made thanksgiving a holiday.