10 Fascinating Facts about Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States.
Grant was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
He led the Union to victory over the Confederate States of America.
Grant’s birth name was Hiram Ulysses Grant, but it was mistakenly changed to Ulysses S. Grant.
Grant’s nickname was Unconditional Surrender Grant.
He was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio.
Grant attended the United States Military Academy at West Point.
He graduated from West Point in 18
9. Grant served in the Mexican-American War and distinguished himself in several battles.
After the war, Grant struggled financially and worked various jobs.
During his presidency, Grant focused on Reconstruction and civil rights for African Americans.
Grant signed the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting African American men the right to vote.
He pushed for civil service reform and fought against corruption.
Grant’s memoirs, written while he was dying of throat cancer, became a critical and commercial success.
He is buried in New York City’s Riverside Park in a mausoleum called Grant’s Tomb.
Grant had a reputation for being calm and quiet, earning him the nickname Silent Grant.
He was known for leading by example and staying with his troops during battles.
Grant had a close working relationship with President Abraham Lincoln.
10 Fascinating Facts about Ulysses S. Grant part 2
As president, Grant worked to ease tensions with Native American tribes.
Grant’s administration passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, prohibiting racial discrimination in public accommodations and jury service.
He was the first president to create a national park – Yellowstone National Park.
Grant had a love for horses and was an excellent equestrian.
He smoked cigars heavily throughout his life.
Grant’s face appears on the U.S. $50 bill.
He was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, making him the highest-ranking military officer in American history.
Grant’s presidency saw the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
He worked to improve diplomatic relations with other countries, including China and Britain.
Grant’s childhood home still stands in Georgetown, Ohio, and is open to the public.
He had four children with his wife, Julia Dent Grant.
Grant had a fondness for whiskey, leading to allegations of alcoholism during his presidency.
He was a supporter of women’s suffrage and appointed the first female federal officeholder.
Grant refused offers to run for a third term as president.
He was credited with helping to stabilize the economy after the Panic of 1873.
Grant endorsed civil service reform to combat government corruption.
He advocated for the creation of a canal in Central America, which would later become the Panama Canal.
Grant’s presidency saw the United States celebrate its centennial.
He pardoned many Confederate soldiers and officials after the Civil War.
Grant was the first president to visit Mexico during his presidency.
He believed in a strong military and successfully lobbied for a peacetime army expansion.
Grant was known for his modesty and dislike of pomp and ceremony.
He suffered financial troubles after leaving the presidency and invested in a failed business venture.
Grant’s reputation has seen ups and downs over the years, with recent reassessments highlighting his military genius and leadership.
He was elected president twice with the support of newly enfranchised African American voters.
Grant’s memoirs were published by Mark Twain and became a bestseller.
He is remembered as a pivotal figure in American history, both for his military achievements and as an advocate for civil rights.