April 27
Ulysses S. Grant Born in Point Pleasant
Summary
Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1843 after an administrative error changed the name recorded for him to Ulysses S. Grant. Grant served in the Mexican-American War, left the Army in 1854, and returned to military service after the Civil War began. His victories at Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga helped establish him as the Union's leading commander, and Abraham Lincoln appointed him general in chief in 1864. Grant accepted Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. He was elected the eighteenth president in 1868 and served two terms. His administration defended Reconstruction governments, supported enforcement of Black voting rights, prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan, and pursued reconciliation with Britain, while also being troubled by scandals involving several officials.
Why It Matters
Grant was instrumental in achieving Union victory in the Civil War and later used federal power as president to defend Reconstruction and Black civil and political rights. His administration's enforcement actions against the Ku Klux Klan were particularly consequential. His military leadership, presidency, and later memoirs make him a major figure in both Civil War history and the contested reconstruction of the United States afterward.
Related Sites
- US Military Atlas: A related profile connecting Ulysses S. Grant with West Point and his military career.
- America 250 Atlas: A presidential profile placing Ulysses S. Grant within United States history.
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Sources
- Ulysses S. Grant, National Park Service. Accessed 2026-08-25.
- Ulysses S. Grant: Life Before the Presidency, Miller Center, University of Virginia. Accessed 2026-08-25.