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Ulysses S. Grant Facts

Ulysses S. Grant Facts
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. He was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio, to Hannah Grant and Jesse Root Grant. His ancestors travelled to the Massachusetts Bay Colony aboard the Mary and John in 1630. His official second name Ulysses was chosen from ballots placed into a hat a few weeks after he was born. Ulysses began school at age 5. Ulysses entered West Point in 1839 as a cadet and throughout his four years in training became known as the most proficient horseman. He also studied art and created several works.
Interesting Ulysses S. Grant Facts:
When Ulysses married Julia Dent in 1848 his father did not attend. Dent's family owned slaves and Ulysses' father was an abolitionist.
Ulysses remained in the U.S. army despite his previous intentions to leave after his 4 years of service because he had a wife to support.
Ulysses and Julia had four children together, including Frederick, Ulysses Jr., Ellen, and Jesse.
Ulysses S. Grant served during the Mexican-American War, leading a cavalry charge at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. He also established an excellent military record and became a seasoned officer.
Ulysses led soldiers and civilians to Panama en route to California after the discovery of gold, but in Panama a cholera epidemic broke out. Eventually Ulysses arrived in San Francisco.
Ulysses attempted to support his growing family with a variety of business ventures while serving in the military but was not successful.
Ulysses resigned from the military in 1854 without explanation but was rumored to be missing his family.
Ulysses spent several years trying to support his family on a low income from various farming activities. He retired from farming after a bout with malaria.
Following many more years of military service Ulysses was promoted by Congress as General of the Army of the United States.
In 1867 Ulysses was appointed Secretary of War by President Andrew Johnson.
Ulysses resigned from his position in 1868 and Johnson was almost impeached.
Ulysses S. Grant became the uncontested candidate for the Republicans for the 1868 presidency race.
Ulysses won the election by 300,000 votes, beating Horatio Seymour.
Ulysses S. Grant became the youngest president to be elected to date, at 46. He was also the first president elected after the outlaw of slavery.
On the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination at the Ford Theatre in 1865, Ulysses was supposed to be in attendance but had to decline because he and Julia were to visit their children in New Jersey.
Following the Civil War, Ulysses prevented Robert E. Le from being charged with treason by opposing Johnson.
When Ulysses was elected to the presidency he had no political experience.
Ulysses mobilized the Justice Department and dismantled the KKK. They didn't resurface until the 1910s.
Ulysses' memoir was published by Mark Twain. He finished the book a few days before dying of cancer. It became a huge bestseller, and Julia received a check for $200,000 a year later.


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