Hiram Ulysses Grant was Ulysses' real name, but because of his initials H.U.G he used his mom's maiden name, Simpson. H. Ulysses Grant became Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was born on April 27, 1822. When Grant was young his dad, Jesse Root Grant, and his mother, Hannah Simpson Grant, owned a tannery. Ulysses worked in the family business when he was young, and he did not like it one bit. At the age of two Grant rode his first horse by himself. Grant was a bright young man and was accepted to West Point. Grant failed to take school seriously and was ranked twenty-first in a class of thirty nine at West Point. When he was in his twenties he joined the army.
In the Mexican American War, he won two brevets for meritorious conduct. During the Civil War Grant was named leader of the Union Army. One of the battles took place along the Tennessee River. Grant was taken by surprise and was almost defeated the first day of the battle. Eventually, Grant won the battle and twenty thousand Confederate troops surrendered. When he was in his thirties he launched an ill unprepared attack and an ill fated attack on Belvnint, Missouri.
In 1848 he married Julia Dent. He had three children Nellie, Jesse and Fred. After he retired from the army he his wife and his youngest son all went on a world wide tour lasting more than two years. On the tour they enjoyed regal treatment and met many world leaders. In 1885 he died from throat cancer at Mount McGregor.
He resigned from the army on April 11, 1854. Grant was a courageous and brilliant leader during the Civil War. His popularity with the public helped him to be elected as the eighteenth president to the United States. Grant served from 1869 to 1877.