On this date in 1885, the 18th president of the united states, Ulysses s. Grant passed on to his eternal reward. Born in Ohio and named Hiram Ulysses Grant, he attended west point where he was afraid that, due to his initials, he would be called hug. Somehow the enrollment got messed up and he was called Ulysses s. Grant. He graduated and served in the Mexican war but then resigned. His post military career was one screwup after another. When the civil war began he reenlisted. By then his reputation as a drunk was established however he captured fort donelson, thereby giving the union one of their few early victories. His capture of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, coupled with the union victory at Gettysburg the previous day, led ultimately to the defeat of the confederates and had him put in charge of all union troops. Accepting the surrender of Robert e. Lee to end the civil war, he generously took no prisoners and allowed the confederates to keep their horses. In 1868, at age 46, he became the at the time youngest president of the u.s.. Under his leadership the 15th amendment was passed. Although scrupulously honest himself, he appointed some bad people who made the likelihood of a 3rd term non existent. After the presidency he began a financial partnership which resulted in his partner stealing $450,000. With a sense of integrity seldom found in 21st century politicians, grant set out to repay the victims. He wrote a series of magazine articles but then was diagnosed with throat cancer. In excruciating pain during a time when pain meds were virtually non existent, he dictated his remembrances to his friend mark twain who wrote his autobiography. Upon completion, in those pre Amazon, pre Barnes &noble days, the book was sold door to door and sold more copies than any other 19th century book. One of the best loved figures of the 19th century, he is largely forgotten today and might be even more remote except for his appearance on the 50 dollar bill.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 20:11:52 +0000
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