Ulysses S. Grant: The Unlikely Hero
Ulysses S. Grant: The Unlikely Hero By: Michael Korda Ulysses S. Grant was born with the name Hiram Ulysses Grant on April, 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. His famous Nickname was, "U.S. Grant," became after he joined the military. He was the first son of Jesse Root Grant, a tanner and businessman, and Hannah Simpson Grant. A year after Grant was born, his family moved to Georgetown, Ohio. Will he was younger he enjoyed horse jumping, and happened to be very good at it.
Grant was a shy and reserved kid; he took after his mother rather than his outgoing father. He hated the idea of working in his father's tannery business. When Grant was 17, his father arranged for him to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has accidentally listed him as Ulysses S. Grant, but Grant just left it. Grant didn't do good at West Point, earning average grades. He did well in mathematics and geology and excelled in horsemanship. In 1843, he graduated 21st out of 39, and was glad to be out. He planned to resign from the military after he served his mandatory four years of duty.
He went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he met his future wife, Julia Dent. Grant proposed marriage in 1844, and Julia accepted. Before the couple could wed, however, he was shipped off for duty. They actually got married four years later on August 22, 1948. During the Mexican-American War, Grant served as quartermaster, efficiently overseeing the movement of supplies. He closely observed his general military tactics and leadership skills. After getting the opportunity to lead a company into combat, Grant was credited for his bravery under fire. He also developed strong feelings that the war was wrong, and that it was being waged only to increase America's territory for the spread of slavery. In 1844, Ulysses and Julia finally married. Over the next six years, the couple had four children, and Grant was assigned to several posts. In
Grant was a shy and reserved kid; he took after his mother rather than his outgoing father. He hated the idea of working in his father's tannery business. When Grant was 17, his father arranged for him to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has accidentally listed him as Ulysses S. Grant, but Grant just left it. Grant didn't do good at West Point, earning average grades. He did well in mathematics and geology and excelled in horsemanship. In 1843, he graduated 21st out of 39, and was glad to be out. He planned to resign from the military after he served his mandatory four years of duty.
He went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he met his future wife, Julia Dent. Grant proposed marriage in 1844, and Julia accepted. Before the couple could wed, however, he was shipped off for duty. They actually got married four years later on August 22, 1948. During the Mexican-American War, Grant served as quartermaster, efficiently overseeing the movement of supplies. He closely observed his general military tactics and leadership skills. After getting the opportunity to lead a company into combat, Grant was credited for his bravery under fire. He also developed strong feelings that the war was wrong, and that it was being waged only to increase America's territory for the spread of slavery. In 1844, Ulysses and Julia finally married. Over the next six years, the couple had four children, and Grant was assigned to several posts. In