-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000059558-04-000037.txt : 20040213
<SEC-HEADER>0000059558-04-000037.hdr.sgml : 20040213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040213153728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000059558-04-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040213

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000059558
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				351140070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 MARKET STREET STE 3900
		STREET 2:		CENTRE SQUARE WEST TOWER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2194552000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 MARKET STREET STE 3900
		STREET 2:		CENTRE SQUARE TOWER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102*2706

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAVIS GEORGE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246216

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06028
		FILM NUMBER:		04598684

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		1500 MARKET STREET, SUITE 3900
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2154481404
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dav105.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000059558</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LNC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246216</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS GEORGE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTRE SQUARE - WEST TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1500 MARKET STREET, STE 3900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>191022112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>DCP Phantom Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1133.16</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1133.16</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26504.77</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Performance Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.11</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>539.7</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>539.70</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19659.70</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Lincoln National Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">DCP Phantom Stock Units are acquired periodically by the reporting person at the then current market price for LNC Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person acquired DCP phantom stock units periodically from 1/1/2003 through 12/31/2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Phantom Stock Units acquired by the reporting person pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan will be settled in LNC Common Stock upon the reporting person's death, disability, or termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">DCP Phantom Stock Units  are acquired periodically by the reporting person through an election to defer compensation under the Plan, but have no fixed exercisable date and are subject to settlement in shares of LNC Common Stock upon the reporting person's death,  retirement or termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">DCP Phantom Stock Units have no fixed expiration date and are subject to settlement in shares of LNC Common Stock upon the reporting person's death, disability, retirement or termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">DCP Phantom Stock Units were acquired by the reporting person at prices ranging from $24.73 to $46.71 per phantom stock unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Reporting Person elected to recieve Phantom Performance Stock Units under the LNC Incentive Compensation Plan for the 2003-2005 Long Term Incentive Plan cycle (&quot;LTIP&quot;), payable in 2006. The Phantom Performance Stock Units are valued at the average of the high and low price of LNC common stock reported on the NYSE on March 12, 2003. The actual number of Phantom Performance Stock Units will not be determined until the scheduled payout for the LTIP in 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Quarterly Dividends accrued on Phantom Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Amount reflects aggregate accrued phantom dividends on phantom performance restricted stock unit awards under 2003-2005 LTIP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The date referred to above is an approximate date by which the reporting person would recieive a pay-out of the 2003-2005 LTIP, if the performance targets set forth in the 2003-2005 LTIP are achieved.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /S/ Donna E. Ostroff, POA for George E. Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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