Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant: A Comprehensive Biography
Full Name and Common Aliases
Ulysses S. Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant, is often referred to simply as "U.S. Grant." He is also known by the nickname "Unconditional Surrender Grant," a moniker earned during his military career.
Birth and Death Dates
Ulysses S. Grant was born on April 27, 1822, and passed away on July 23, 1885.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Ulysses S. Grant was an American national. He is best known for his roles as a military leader and the 18th President of the United States. His professions included soldier, statesman, and author.
Early Life and Background
Ulysses S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, to Jesse Root Grant, a tanner and merchant, and Hannah Simpson Grant. Raised in a modest household, Grant's early life was marked by a strong work ethic instilled by his parents. Despite his father's aspirations for him to attend West Point, Grant showed little interest in a military career. However, he eventually accepted a nomination to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1843.
At West Point, Grant was an average student academically but excelled in horsemanship. His time at the academy was formative, shaping his future military strategies and leadership style. After graduation, he was assigned to the 4th U.S. Infantry and served in the Mexican-American War under Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, gaining valuable combat experience.
Major Accomplishments
Ulysses S. Grant's most significant accomplishments are rooted in his military career and presidency. During the American Civil War, he rose to prominence as a Union general. His leadership in key battles, such as the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Chattanooga, showcased his strategic acumen and contributed to the Union's victory.
In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Grant as the Commanding General of the United States Army. Grant's relentless pursuit of Confederate forces, culminating in the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in 1865, effectively ended the Civil War.
As the 18th President of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877, Grant focused on Reconstruction and civil rights for freed slaves. His administration worked to stabilize the post-war economy and enforce civil rights legislation, although it was marred by corruption scandals.
Notable Works or Actions
Grant's military strategies and decisive actions during the Civil War are among his most notable contributions. His implementation of total war tactics and his ability to coordinate large-scale operations were instrumental in the Union's success. His memoirs, "Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant," published posthumously in 1885, are considered one of the finest military autobiographies, offering insights into his life and the Civil War.
Impact and Legacy
Ulysses S. Grant's impact on American history is profound. As a military leader, he played a crucial role in preserving the Union and ending slavery. His presidency, while controversial due to scandals, was pivotal in the Reconstruction era, as he advocated for the rights of African Americans and sought to reconcile a divided nation.
Grant's legacy is complex; he is remembered both for his military genius and the challenges of his presidency. His efforts to promote civil rights laid the groundwork for future advancements, and his leadership style influenced subsequent military and political leaders.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ulysses S. Grant is widely quoted and remembered for his tenacity, leadership, and commitment to unity and equality. His famous quote, "Let us have peace," reflects his desire for reconciliation and healing after the Civil War. Grant's life and career offer valuable lessons in perseverance, humility, and the complexities of leadership.
His memoirs provide a candid and insightful account of his experiences, making them a rich source of quotes and reflections on leadership, war, and human nature. Grant's ability to overcome personal and professional challenges continues to inspire and resonate with people today, ensuring his place in history as a significant and quotable figure.
Quotes by Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant's insights on:
Declare Church and State forever separate and distinct, but each free within their proper spheres, and that all church property shall bear its own proportion of taxation.
I suffer the mortification of seeing myself attacked right and left by people at home professing patriotism and love of country who never heard the whistle of a hostile bullet. I pity them and the nation dependent on such for its existence. I am thankful, however that, though such people make a great noise, the masses are not like them.
I have nothing to do with opinions. I deal only with armed rebellion and its aiders and abettors.
Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was accomplished.
The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times. The 4th infantry went into camp at Salubrity in the month of May, 1844, with instructions, as I have said, to await further orders.
The Mississippi was now in our possession from its source to its mouth, except in the immediate front of Vicksburg and of Port Hudson.
It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may come up in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery before. The condition of the colored man within our borders may become a source of anxiety, to say the least. But he was brought to our shores by compulsion, and he now should be considered as having as good a right to remain here as any other class of our citizens.
The South claimed the sovereignty of States, but claimed the right to coerce into their confederation such States as they wanted, that is, all the States where slavery existed. They did not seem to think this course inconsistent.