Ulysses S. Grant

He fell in love with his friend’s sister, Julia Dent, in 1844 and became engaged to her. The couple got married on August 22, 1848, amid opposition from both sets of parents. They faced many adversities in their marriage but remained steadfast in their love and commitment to each other till the very end. They were blessed with four children.

After stepping down as president in 1877 he, along with his wife, embarked on a long world tour that lasted over two years. He was received warmly everywhere they went and got the opportunity to meet Queen Victoria, Pope Leo XIII and Japanese Emperor Meiji. They finally returned to the U.S. in 1879.

In 1884 Grant was diagnosed with throat cancer. Despite his illness, he worked on his memoirs, which were published as ‘Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant’ in 1885, shortly after his death. The book was a commercial as well as a critical success.

He was born as Hiram Ulysses Grant in Point Pleasant, Ohio, on April 27, 1822, to Jesse Root Grant and Hannah as one of their several children. His father was a tanner.

He did not like working in his father’s tannery and instead chose to work on the family farms. He developed an early ability to work with horses and was very skilled in controlling even the unruly ones. He also often sustained injuries as a result of working with horses.

Since he had no interest in joining his father in his business, his father decided to send him to the United States Military Academy. There his name was erroneously listed as “Ulysses S. Grant”, and he decided to continue with this name.

He was not interested in military life and was lax in his studies. However, he did perform well in subjects like mathematics and geology, and gained a reputation as a skilled and fearless horseman. He graduated in 1843.

Following his graduation Grant was assigned as a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry. When the Mexican–American War broke out in 1846, he served under General Zachary Taylor in the Army of Observation. He led a cavalry charge at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma and displayed great courage and bravery in the campaigns.

He was eventually promoted to first lieutenant and captain on account of his gallantry. He resigned from the army in 1854.

Over the next few years he struggled to build a life for himself and his family as a civilian. He became involved in a series of businesses that failed miserably and he was not able to successfully establish himself in any profession as a civilian.

The American Civil War broke out in 1861 and Grant decided to join the army again. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers and recruitment drives were organized. Grant, as an experienced army man, was asked to lead the efforts and he helped recruit a company of volunteers and accompanied the regiment to Springfield.

Grant was appointed brigadier general and soon gained command of the District of Southeast Missouri, headquartered at Cairo, Illinois. He achieved the first major Union victory of the war, when Fort Donelson, which dominated the Cumberland River, surrendered with about 15,000 troops, in February 1862.