Ulysses Simpson Grant (1822–85)

United States Army soldier; president of the United States. United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, 1839–43. Served in Fourth Infantry; captain, 1853. Resigned and held a variety of civilian posts, 1854–60. In 1861 joined the Union forces as colonel of Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers; major-general of Volunteers, 1862. In 1863 promoted to major-general in the regular army, then lieutenant-general with command of the armies of the United States. Played a decisive role in the ending of the American Civil War in 1865; created general in 1866. Nominated Republican Party candidate in 1868. President of United States, 1868–72 and 1872–7.