Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was the 18th U.S. President and military commander during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Under Grant, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military. As Commanding General, Grant confronted Robert E. Lee in a series of very high casualty battles ending in a stalemate siege at Petersburg. During the siege, Grant coordinated a series of devastating campaigns launched by William T. Sherman. The Union Army captured Richmond in April 1865 and Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. He was elected to the Presidency in 1868. He led Reconstruction by signing civil rights laws and fighting Ku Klux Klan violence. Despite this, his presidency was marred by economic turmoil and scandals. His reputation was severely damaged by the graft trials of the Whiskey Ring and he left office at the low point of his popularity. Historians have ranked his Administration poorly due to tolerance of corruption.