The remarkable path from a clerk earning $50 a month to the general who saved the Union and the president who fought the Klan begins with a boy in Ohio who was more comfortable with horses than people.
Key Takeaways
- Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio, to Jesse Root Grant and Hannah Simpson Grant.
- Grant's father Jesse was a tanner and manufacturer of leather goods in Point Pleasant before moving the family to Georgetown, Ohio.
- At age 17, Grant was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point by Congressman Thomas L. Hamer, despite not applying himself.
- Grant first saw combat in the Mexican-American War under Zachary Taylor at Resaca de la Palma on May 9, 1846.
- During the Mexican War, Grant served under Winfield Scott and was promoted to first lieutenant on April 1, 1847.
- Grant commanded a company at the Battle of Chapultepec on September 13, 1847, carrying wounded men under fire.
- Grant elected as 18th President on November 3, 1868, winning 214 electoral votes to Horatio Seymour's 80.
- Inaugurated on March 4, 1869, Grant declared "Let us discard all hate" in his speech.
- Signed the 15th Amendment on February 3, 1870, granting voting rights to Black men.
- Signed the Coinage Act of 1873, demonetizing silver and establishing gold standard effectively., category: Presidency
- Ulysses S. Grant married Julia Boggs Dent on August 22, 1848, in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Grant and Julia had four children: Frederick (1850), Ulysses Jr. (1852), Ellen (1855), and Jesse (1858).
- Grant was a heavy cigar smoker, consuming up to 20 cigars daily, contributing to his throat cancer.
- Grant toured the world from 1877-1880, visiting 20 countries.
- Retired from presidency on March 4, 1877, at age 55.
Grant's varied life progressed from humble origins to military leadership and the presidency.
Early Life
- Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio, to Jesse Root Grant and Hannah Simpson Grant.
- Grant's father Jesse was a tanner and manufacturer of leather goods in Point Pleasant before moving the family to Georgetown, Ohio.
- At age 17, Grant was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point by Congressman Thomas L. Hamer, despite not applying himself.
- Grant graduated from West Point in 1843, ranking 21st in a class of 39 cadets, with a particular aptitude in mathematics and horsemanship.
- During his West Point years, Grant's name was changed to Ulysses Simpson Grant due to an clerical error by Congressman Hamer.
- Grant married Julia Dent on August 22, 1848, after a four-year courtship interrupted by the Mexican-American War.
- Grant's first child, Frederick Dent Grant, was born on May 30, 1850, in St. Louis, Missouri.
- In 1854, Grant resigned from the U.S. Army at age 32, after being stationed at Fort Humboldt in California.
- After resigning, Grant failed at farming on his 80-acre Hardscrabble farm near St. Louis, losing money on crops and hogs.
- Grant worked as a clerk in his father's leather goods store in Galena, Illinois, earning $50 per month starting in 1860.
- Grant's childhood home in Georgetown, Ohio, is preserved as the Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home historic site.
- Grant was known for his exceptional equestrian skills from childhood, breaking and taming wild horses.
- At West Point, Grant accumulated 293 demerits, nearly the maximum allowed, mostly for minor infractions like tardiness.
- Grant's mother Hannah was of Scottish descent and managed the household during his father's frequent business travels.
- Grant had an older brother Simpson and two younger sisters, Clara and Virginia, in his family of six children.
- In 1846, Grant saw his first combat during the Mexican-American War at the Battle of Palo Alto.
- Grant served as a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry Regiment during his early military training post-West Point.
- Julia Dent Grant suffered from strabismus (crossed eyes), which Grant found endearing and never sought to correct surgically.
- Grant's second child, Ulysses S. Grant Jr., was born on July 22, 1852, while Grant was in California.
- In Galena, Grant lived at 500 Bouthillier Street, now the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site.
- Grant briefly attended a local school in Clermont, Ohio, before private tutoring prepared him for West Point.
- Grant's resignation from the army was prompted by rumors of drunkenness and isolation from family.
- He sold firewood on the streets of St. Louis during his farming failures to support his family.
- Grant's third child, Ellen Wrenshall Grant, was born on July 4, 1855.
- Grant invested in a real estate venture with his father-in-law Frederick Dent but lost money.
- At age 11, Grant was sent alone with a large sum of money to buy a horse at a Kentucky fair.
- Grant's family moved nine times before he turned 10 due to his father's business pursuits.
- He was brevetted first lieutenant for gallantry at the Battle of Molino del Rey in 1847.
- Grant's fourth child, Jesse Root Grant Jr., was born on February 26, 1858.
- Grant avoided alcohol after his army resignation due to personal struggles with drinking.
- Grant was promoted to captain in the infantry on August 5, 1853.
Early Life Interpretation
From a middling cadet who nearly failed West Point to a struggling farmer and humble clerk, Grant's unlikely path forged the resilient commander who would later save the Union with the same tenacity he once used to break wild horses.
Later Years
- Grant toured the world from 1877-1880, visiting 20 countries.
- Retired from presidency on March 4, 1877, at age 55.
- Joined the investment firm Grant, Ward & King in 1881, which failed in 1884.
- Diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in April 1884.
- Dictated his Personal Memoirs from June 1884 to July 1885, sold for $450,000 advance.
- Died at Mount McGregor, New York, on July 23, 1885, at 8:50 PM.
- Funeral procession in NYC drew 1.5 million mourners on August 8, 1885.
- Buried in Riverside Park, NYC; mausoleum dedicated 1897.
- Memoirs published 1885-86, became bestseller with 300,000 copies sold.
- Received pensions for Julia: $5,000/year from Congress.
- Visited Japan in 1879, met Emperor Meiji, inspiring samurai reforms.
- Advised Garfield against third term in 1880 Republican convention.
- Considered for 1880 nomination but health declined.
- Statue erected in Washington, D.C., 1922 by Congress.
- Posthumously promoted to General of the Armies in 1958.
- $250,000 from memoirs secured family future.
- Lived at 3 East 66th Street, NYC, during writing.
- Met Mark Twain in 1884, who published memoirs.
- World tour cost $100,000, funded by receptions abroad.
- Visited Vatican, met Pope Leo XIII in 1878.
- Advised Chilean government during War of the Pacific.
- His memoirs praised by Winston Churchill as finest war narrative.
- Mausoleum visited by 1 million annually today.
- Featured on $50 bill from 1913-1929 and 1928-1934.
- Airport renamed Grant County Airport in his honor.
- Posthumous film "Grant" (2020) by History Channel.
Later Years Interpretation
In his final year, with death looming and his finances in ruins, Grant battled throat cancer to write a memoir of such searing clarity that it not only rescued his family from poverty but cemented his legacy as the author of his own epic redemption story.
Military Career
- Grant first saw combat in the Mexican-American War under Zachary Taylor at Resaca de la Palma on May 9, 1846.
- During the Mexican War, Grant served under Winfield Scott and was promoted to first lieutenant on April 1, 1847.
- Grant commanded a company at the Battle of Chapultepec on September 13, 1847, carrying wounded men under fire.
- In 1861, Grant was appointed colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment on June 15.
- Grant's first major victory was at the Battle of Belmont on November 7, 1861, against Confederate forces in Missouri.
- Promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on May 17, 1862, by President Lincoln.
- Grant captured Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, forcing unconditional surrender and earning the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
- At the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862, Grant's army suffered 13,047 casualties but held the field.
- Grant besieged and captured Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 4, 1863, after 47 days, splitting the Confederacy.
- The Chattanooga Campaign in November 1863 saw Grant relieve the city after victories at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.
- Lincoln promoted Grant to lieutenant general on March 2, 1864, the first since George Washington.
- Grant crossed the Rapidan River on May 4, 1864, beginning the Overland Campaign against Robert E. Lee.
- The Battle of the Wilderness on May 5-7, 1864, resulted in 17,666 Union casualties under Grant's command.
- At Spotsylvania Court House on May 8-21, 1864, Grant attacked Lee's entrenchments, suffering 18,399 casualties.
- Grant besieged Petersburg, Virginia, starting June 9, 1864, leading to the fall of Richmond.
- Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House occurred on April 9, 1865, with 28,356 Confederate troops paroled.
- Grant commanded 112,914 troops at the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 1-3, 1864, with 12,000 Union casualties.
- During the siege of Vicksburg, Grant marched 180 miles through Mississippi in 18 days to outflank defenses.
- Grant was promoted to full general of the United States Army on July 25, 1866.
- In the Battle of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, Grant captured the fort with naval assistance.
- Grant's Overland Campaign inflicted 55,000 casualties on Lee's army from May to June 1864.
- He led the Army of the Tennessee, which grew to over 58,000 men by late 1862.
- Grant personally accepted the surrender of Confederate General Simon B. Buckner at Fort Donelson.
- During the Mexican War, Grant was cited for gallantry four times by Winfield Scott.
- Grant commanded Union forces totaling 533,634 soldiers by 1865.
- The Crater incident at Petersburg on July 30, 1864, saw 3,798 Union casualties in Grant's sector.
- Grant issued General Order No. 11 in 1862 expelling Jews from his military district amid smuggling accusations.
- He coordinated Sherman's March to the Sea with the Petersburg siege in 1864-65.
- Grant's terms at Appomattox allowed Confederate officers to keep their horses and sidearms.
Military Career Interpretation
Ulysses S. Grant began his military career carrying wounded men under fire in Mexico and ended it by accepting the surrender of an entire army at Appomattox, a brutal and unyielding journey that forged a general who understood that the arithmetic of war was measured not just in ground gained but in relentless pressure applied until the enemy's will broke.
Personal Life
- Ulysses S. Grant married Julia Boggs Dent on August 22, 1848, in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Grant and Julia had four children: Frederick (1850), Ulysses Jr. (1852), Ellen (1855), and Jesse (1858).
- Grant was a heavy cigar smoker, consuming up to 20 cigars daily, contributing to his throat cancer.
- He stood 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 155 pounds, with a stocky build.
- Grant had a lifelong affinity for horses, naming his favorite Cincinnati.
- Julia Grant accompanied him on many trips, including to the White House.
- Grant struggled with alcohol early in life but largely abstained later.
- His son Frederick served as U.S. Minister to Austria-Hungary under President McKinley.
- Ellen Grant married Algernon Sartoris in the White House on May 21, 1874.
- Grant enjoyed watercolor painting as a hobby, producing over 50 works.
- He was nearsighted and wore reading glasses from age 40.
- Grant's personal library included 3,000 volumes sold after his death.
- He was a Methodist but rarely attended church services.
- Grant owned a dog named Jeff Davis during his Galena years.
- Julia's memoirs "The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant" were published posthumously in 1975.
- Grant suffered from migraines throughout his life, exacerbated by stress.
- His favorite food was rice pudding, often served at White House dinners.
- Grant played whist and other card games with friends regularly.
- He wrote daily letters to Julia during wartime separations.
- Grant's throat cancer was diagnosed in 1884 after noticing a sore throat.
- His son Jesse became a mining engineer and lawyer.
- Grant was known for his quiet demeanor and few words in social settings.
- He wore the same uniform daily during the Vicksburg siege.
- Grant's autobiography was dictated from his deathbed in 1885.
- Julia outlived Grant by 17 years, dying in 1902.
- Grant was baptized into the Episcopal Church shortly before death.
- He enjoyed speed skating on ice as a youth.
- Grant's personal fortune peaked at $1 million from book sales before death.
- His family lived modestly in New York after White House.
Personal Life Interpretation
A general who found stability in rice pudding, cigars, and unwavering letters home, Ulysses S. Grant commanded his turbulent life with the same quiet resolve that won a war, leaving a fortune in words and a family that carried his legacy forward.
Presidency
- Grant elected as 18th President on November 3, 1868, winning 214 electoral votes to Horatio Seymour's 80.
- Inaugurated on March 4, 1869, Grant declared "Let us discard all hate" in his speech.
- Signed the 15th Amendment on February 3, 1870, granting voting rights to Black men.
- Created the Department of Justice on June 22, 1870, with Amos T. Akerman as first Attorney General.
- Grant signed the Civil Rights Act of 1871, combating Ku Klux Klan violence in the South.
- Negotiated the Treaty of Washington on May 8, 1871, settling Alabama claims with Britain.
- Vetoed the Inflation Bill on April 22, 1874, to maintain currency stability post-Civil War.
- Signed the Specie Payment Resumption Act on January 14, 1875, resuming gold standard by 1879.
- Attempted to annex the Dominican Republic in 1870, but Senate rejected the treaty 28-28 on June 30.
- Issued amnesty to most Confederates on December 25, 1868, restoring citizenship rights.
- Created Yellowstone National Park by signing the Yellowstone Act on March 1, 1872, first national park.
- Signed the Comstock Act on March 3, 1873, banning obscene materials via U.S. mail.
- Re-elected in 1872 with 286 electoral votes against Horace Greeley's 66.
- Faced the Crédit Mobilier scandal in 1872, though not personally implicated.
- Whiskey Ring scandal in 1875 involved 110 convictions, including Grant's private secretary Orville Babcock.
- Appointed 37 federal judges during his presidency, including two Supreme Court justices.
- Reduced national debt by $435 million from $2.4 billion to $2 billion during his terms.
- Deployed federal troops to suppress violence in Louisiana's 1872 election dispute.
- His administration prosecuted 1,250 Klansmen, breaking the KKK by 1872.
- Vetoed additional public debt bill on April 22, 1874, first veto overridden by Congress.
- Popular vote in 1868: Grant 52.7% (3,013,650 votes) vs. Seymour 47.3% (2,706,829).
- Inaugural crowd estimated at 50,000 on March 4, 1869, in Washington, D.C.
- Appointed William W. Belknap as Secretary of War, who resigned amid bribery scandal in 1876.
- Grant's cabinet had 14 different Secretaries of the Treasury due to turnover.
- Signed act creating United States Naval Academy's permanent campus at Annapolis in 1870.
- Faced Sanborn Incident in 1874 involving tax collection abuses.
- His second inaugural address on March 4, 1873, emphasized civil service reform.
- Grant attended 75 cabinet meetings per year on average during his presidency.
Presidency Interpretation
Grant's presidency was a turbulent yet principled balancing act of enforcing Reconstruction, fighting for civil rights against a violent insurgency, pursuing fiscal sanity, and planting the seeds of national conservation, all while being dragged into the muck of the scandals his own trusting nature failed to foresee.
Presidency, source url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinage_Act_of_1873
- Signed the Coinage Act of 1873, demonetizing silver and establishing gold standard effectively., category: Presidency
Presidency, source url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinage_Act_of_1873 Interpretation
Grant's administration made gold the lone star of American currency, leaving silver to wonder where all the friends went.
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