Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses Simpson Grant was born on April 27th of 1822. At the age of 17 he was forced to attend the military academy of West Point, New York. In the war against Mexico he became an honorable soldier under Governor Zachary Taylor’s leadership, however, and was appointed as captain.
In 1854 he was dismissed from the army due to alcohol problems but continued his military career when fighting in the Civil War as colonel. In the following years, Grant led the Union Army to many victories over the confederacy troops until he finally had them surrender in 1865.
As a heroic figure of the Union Army and candidate of the Republican Party, Ulysses Grant was voted President of the United States in 1868.
One of his biggest earnings was his engagement in nature conservation. Grant wanted to save the Yellowstone territory from settlement and mining and passed a law in March 1872. Due to this law the first national park was founded: the Yellowstone National park.
Grant was reelected that very year. His second presidency was more problematic that his first and mostly characterized by corruption and economic crises.
After his second presidency, Grant joined the banking industry, but failed. He was diagnosed with cancer and finished his autobiography shortly before his death in 1885.
"I have made it a rule of my life to trust a man long after other people gave him up, but I don't see how I can ever trust any human being again." (Ulysses Grant)