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ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT

Ulysses Simpson Grant (real name Hiram Ulysses Grant, his later name arose from an error in the registration process for his cadetship) was an American soldier, politician and the eighteenth president of the USA from 1869 to 1877. He was born in 1822 at Point Pleasant, Ohio and died in 1885. He attended and graduated West Point military academy, graduated in 1843 and joined the 4th US Infantry at Jefferson Barracks as a brevet second lieutenant, being commissioned a lieutenant, he fought in the Mexican War, and was present at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma among others, and was brevetted captain in 1847 for conduct at Chapultepec. In 1854 he resigned his commission and engaged in business - first in farming near St Louis and later in the leather trade with his father at galena, Illinois - until 1861 with the declaration of war when he was chosen captain of a company of volunteers. He was soon after the outbreak of the American Civil War given command of the forces at Cairo, Illinois, and in 1861 seized Paducah. In 1862 he gained possession of Fort Henry and Port Donelson, strongly contested points, the surrender of which was the first brilliant victory of the national arms. For this success he was commissioned major-general. In conjunction with the forces of General Buell he defeated the Confederates at Pittsburg Landing and soon afterward was assigned to command in Tennessee. He defeated General Price in 1863 and succeeded in taking Vicksburg from Pendleton after repeated attacks. Having thus secured the Mississippi, he was appointed major-general in the regular army and placed in command of the Western army.

He gained brilliant victories about Chattanooga and was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to the newly revived rank of lieutenant-general. Leaving Sherman to conduct the chief Western army from Tennessee to the sea, he assumed control of the movements against the Confederates defending Richmond, commanded by General Lee. With dogged persistence and at great sacrifice of life he fought the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, destroying the railways which brought supplies to the Confederates, taking Petersburg in 1865 and compelling the entire command to surrender on April the 9th at Appomattox Court House, thereby ending the American Civil War.

In the period of reconstruction which followed he played a most honourable part, often being placed in difficult positions by the animosity between President Johnson and Congress. In 1868 he was unanimously nominated for President by the Republicans, was elected and served two terms, from 1868 to 1876. During his administration occurred the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, the funding of the national debt, civil service reform was inaugurated, the Treaty of Washington was negotiated with Great Britain, and specie payment was resumed in 1875. His administration as President was not wholly successful, some of his advisers proving most unworthy. He possessed an unassuming manner, yet was self-reliant and prompt in his decisions, calm and patient in all circumstances, and won the admiration of all by his moral and physical courage.
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