Ulyísses Simpson Grant (1822-1885) was the 18th President of the United States and a noted soldier. Born at Point Pleasant, Ohio, of Scots descent, he attended the military academy at West Point. As a second lieut. he fought with gallantry in Mexico, after which campaign he gave up soldiering for farming. He joined the Federal troops on the outbreak of the Civil War, and quickly became brigadier-general, the victories of Fort Donelson, 1862, and Vicksburg, 1863, gaining him the command of the army in 1864. His campaign, involving great sacrifice of life among his own troops, was ultimately successful, and Lee's forces surrendered in 1865 after a series of fierce and bloody battles. Three years later he became President, serving two consecutive terms. After retiring from office he became a partner in a banking firm, which went bankrupt through the dishonesty of two of his co-partners, with the result that he was ruined. Slowly dying from a cancerous throat, he set to work writing his Personal Memoirs, hoping to retrieve his fortunes, but died four days after completing his task.
