Timeline Description: Grant was the eighteenth US president in the nation's history. He was a popular war hero during the Civil War, and that aided him during the election. He served two terms and is still remembered for his great work today.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1822 | Ulysses Grant is born Ulysses was born in Ohio, and his given name was Hiram Ulysses Grant. He grew up in a quiet family, and he enjoyed working with horses. |
| 1839 | A name change Ulysses' name was changed when he was seventeen and admitted into the United States Military Academy at West Point. His name was written down incorrectly, but instead of changing it around, Ulysses kept the new name. |
| 1843 | Graduation from West Point Grant finished his training and planned to serve only a minimal term in the military. Things would not quite work out that way. |
| 1844 | A secret engagement Grant met his former classmate's sister, Julia, while stationed in St. Louis. They fell in love and became secretly engaged. |
| 1846 | The Mexican-American War While serving his country in Louisiana, the Mexican-American War heated up. Grant moved to the front lines of battle in order to fight. |
| 1848 | Marriage After a long engagement, Grant was finally able to marry his sweetheart, Julia. They had four children. |
| 1852 | The California Gold Rush In a continuing military career, Grant had to move all around the country. He lived in Detroit, New York, Oregon, and even California during the Gold Rush. |
| 1855 | Unsuccessful at business Grant finally left the military and tried his hand at many business ventures. All of them failed, including tanning, farming, bill collecting, and more. |
| 1856 | Grant votes during the presidential election For the first time ever, Ulysses S. Grant voted during the presidential election. He was not a man of politics, but he soon would be. |
| 1861 | Back on active military duty The Civil War broke out and Grant was once again called upon to serve in the military. He was put in charge of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment for the Union Army. |
| 1862 | The Battle of Shiloh Grant had great success in his command of troops. At the Battle of Shiloh he helped defeat a huge Confederate Army and was hailed a hero. |
| 1865 | End of the Civil War Quickly advancing, Grant was soon in charge of the entire Union Army. He was able to capture General Lee's southern army at the Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865. |
| 1868 | Presidential Election Grant was a popular war hero, and he easily won the election for president. It was the first time he had ever held an office and he served for two terms. |
| 1869 | Two terms as president(1869-1877) Grant made many advances during his presidency, including enforcing civil rights for any person, including freed slaves. However, his presidency also included scandals, and by the end of his second term he had made many enemies. |
| 1885 | Grant passes away After he left political life, Grant went on a world tour, and eventually settled down to write a memoir. He finished the memoir shortly before he died in 1885. |