Ulysses S. Grant

a.k.a. Ulysses Simpson Grant, Hiram Ulysses Grant

Author Code: AUSG

Grant graduated from West Point in 1843 and served in the Mexican War. He left the army in 1854 and moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he worked at farming and real estate. He moved to Illinois in 1860 and at the outbreak of the Civil War was commissioned as a colonel of volunteers. He was rapidly promoted to Brigadier and with his victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, came to the attention of Lincoln. He was promoted to major general and during 1862-63 captured Vicksburg and took over command in the West. Lincoln once again promoted him in March, 1864, to the rank of Lieutenant General and General-in-Chief of the Union army. Grant was instrumental in directing the strategy that led to Lee's surrender in 1865, ending the war. He was promoted to a full General in 1866 and was the Republican Party's choice for President. Elected in 1868, Grant's tenure in office was marred by corruption which made his administration a disgrace. In spite of this, Grant was re-elected in 1872 to a second term. On his retirement, Grant toured the world for two years before settling in New York. He lost most of his money in a banking collapse in 1884 and was forced to write his Personal Memoirs (1885-86) in order to pay his debts and to provide for his family. Grant died of throat cancer and never saw the final publication.