Madison Trent, sophomore, wrote the following article about Ulysses S. Grant, former president. 

When you hear the name, Ulysses S. Grant, what do you think of? My mind thought of some guy who was a general in the American Civil War.(Ulysses S. Grant: A) It didn’t register that Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States. I was soon to find out though that Ulysses S. Grant can be remembered by much more than that. Grant’s early life, presidency, and later life will tell you information about him, but I want you to look above all that, at his character and the man he really was.

On April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, OH, Hiram Ulysses Grant was born to Jesse Root and Hannah Simpson Grant. Grant’s father was a tanner here and made good money for his family.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Facts) Grant, along with his two brothers and three sisters grew up in Georgetown, OH.(Ulysses S. Grant - Life)(Ulysses S. Grant . U.S.) During his childhood, he worked with horses and found that he had great skills for them. He soon also had a reputation for them as well. He plowed, gathered wood, and helped around the home just as any child would do, but when it came to his father’s tanning business he was out. He did not like the idea of it at all.(SparkNotes:)(Ulysses S. Grant: Life) For Grant’s education he attended some subscription schools in Georgetown, OH, including Maysville Seminary and the Presbyterian Academy.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Chronology)(Ulysses S. Grant - Life) He then went on to attend the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY. He graduated on July 1, 1843, but described his four years there as “interminable.”(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Facts) It was here that Grant became known as Ulysses S. Grant. Apparently, he had registered as Ulysses H. Grant, but it was mistakenly wrote as “S.”(Ulysses S. Grant - Life) Military life would also become his early career.(Ulysses S. Grant: Life) We then fast forward a little to August 22, 1848. The date when Grant marries his wife Julia Boggs Dent in St. Louis, Missouri.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Facts) Grant and his wife have four children in the future, Frederick Dent Grant, Ulysses S. Grant Jr., Ellen Wrenshall Grant, and Jesse Root Grant.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Grant)

Grant spent many years in the military, he was assigned to Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor, NY, then to Detroit, Michigan, and then to Humboldt Bay, CA. From there he resigned his commission to return to Missouri after being homesick. He also fought in the Mexican War.(Ulysses S. Grant - Life) On August 5, 1861 congress approved the request from President Lincoln to make Grant the Brigadier General. Then Grant continues to fight in the Battle of Belmont where he takes Fort Donelson, the first victory of importance in the war. He then fought in the Battle of Shiloh. After other achievements, Grant is appointed General in Chief of all U.S. armies. About two years later he became the first four star General in U.S. history. When President Andrew Johnson comes to office he wants to get the popular Grant out of the way, but he doesn't succeed. On May 21, 1868 Grant is nominated as candidate for President by the Republican National Convention. He is voted in and is President on March 4, 1869.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Chronology)

Grant is now the eighteenth president of the United States of America and he stays in office for two terms.(Ulysses S. Grant - Fast)(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Chronology) Grant’s political party during this time was Republican.(American President: Ulysses S. Grant - Miller) For Grant’s first term Schuyler Colfax held the office of vice president from 1869 to 1873. For Grant’s second term Henry Wilson was vice president from 1873 to 1875 until he died in office before the end of the term.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - President) Grant was able to accomplish many things during his two terms. Including ratifying the fifteenth amendment in 1870, restoring the seceded states, defeating Custer at Little Bighorn in 1876,  and making Colorado a state in 1876. He also held the first Centennial Exposition in Philly.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - President) The Centennial Exposition was the first world’s fair held in the U.S. that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. as a world power.(The) Someone who might have influenced Grant was President Lincoln. Lincoln was the one who honored him as general and I believe that pushed him to run for president. His time as president can be remembered as one we should never forget.

After two rough terms as president Grant has had enough and decides not to run a third time. Julia would like to stay at the White house, but Grant just didn’t care to president anymore.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Chronology) Grant and his wife settled in New York City and began a new life. Before settling in New York Grant traveled the world from 1877 to 1879. Then he had a brokerage firm with his son and became president of the Mexican Southern Railroad Company.(Ulysses S. Grant - Life) Once the brokerage firm failed Grant went into depression. Then in September 1884 he was diagnosed with cancer in the throat. Eventually the cancer spread and Grant died on July 23, 1885 at 8:06 am. When Grant died, his son Fred stopped the mantle clock and went back to his father one last time. Grant died in Mt. McGregor, New York. Grant had written his own memoirs and they were printed and sold. They ended up earning Julia $500,000 and they became the most well written memoirs of a U.S. President.(ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Chronology)

At one time Grant said, “In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.”(Ulysses S. Grant Quotes) When Grant died, it was because he considered himself beaten and he just couldn’t fight back anymore. Some of the legacy he left is he was known to be honest, loyal, and a great general. He was also known to have fought to protect African Americans more than any other nineteenth century president. He even tried very hard to ratify the fifteenth amendment, which made it possible for African Americans to vote.(American President: Ulysses S. Grant: Impact) Ulysses S. Grant’s book may have come to an end for some, but to others it is just the beginning of a great legacy carried on.

Works Cited

"American President: Ulysses S. Grant: Impact and Legacy." 3 Feb. 2015

<http://millercenter.org/president/grant/essays/biography/8>