Grant's Early Years

Jesse and Hannah Grant, 1870

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Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio as the first child of Jesse R. Grant, a tanner and leather merchant, and Hannah Simpson Grant. As a young boy, Grant developed a great skill with horses, and was hired to break and train them for neighbors. Grant had a pleasant childhood recalling "I had as many privileges as any boy in the village, and probably more than most of them," and added that "there was never any scolding or punishing by my parents."

Lieutenant U.S. Grant and Lieutenant Alexander Hays in 1845, 1898

Library of Congress

Grant received a nomination to attend U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY after Jesse wrote to Representative Thomas L. Hamer requesting Hamer to nominate his son in 1839. Instead of enlisting as Hiram Ulysses Grant, he was enlisted as Cadet U.S. Grant due to Hamer submitting the incorrect nomination. Ulysses accepted the change, and schoolmates nicknamed him 'United States,' 'Uncle Sam,' and eventually 'Sam Grant.'

Grant excelled in science and math, but scored low in military subjects such as infantry tactics or artillery. Although Grant claimed that "a military life had no charms for me," he graduated from West Point in 1843 as the 21st out of 39 graduating cadets. Following graduation, Grant was promoted to brevet lieutenant and was assigned to the 4th U.S. Infantry Regiment at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, MS

Brigadier General Frederick Tracy Dent, between 1861 and 1865

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Grant’s former roommate Frederick Dent grew up on a plantation near Jefferson Barracks, and he encouraged Grant to visit his family in the company of James Longstreet, who was a cousin of the Dent family. Frederick would write to his sister about Ulysses, writing “I want you to know him...He is pure gold. I have never known him to use profane or vulgar word...he is a splendid fellow.”

Julia, the fifth of eight children in the Dent family, met Grant during one of his visits to the home in February 1844. The two fell in love after spending time together during Ulysses’ weekly trips to visit the Dent family at their White Haven plantation.

Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, 1869

Library of Congress

Julia and Grant became secretly engaged in 1844 before Grant and the 4^th Infantry Regiment were ordered to Camp Salubrity, Louisiana in preparation of the War with Mexico. According to Julia’s memoirs, Ulysses returned to White Haven in the spring of 1845 and traveled with Julia’s father “Colonel” Frederick F. Dent to Maryland in order to seek his approval to marry his daughter.

In her memoirs Julia wrote that “Papa (Mr. Grant told me) said he did not think the roving life I would have to lead as a soldier’s wife would suit me at all, when Mr. Grant immediately said he had been offered a professorship in a college in Ohio; so, if that was the only objection, he would resign.”

Frederick thought it was best for Ulysses to stick to his current profession, and “at all events, permission was obtained for us to correspond. If we were so young should not change our minds in a year or two, he would then make no objection.”

Ulysses S. Grant with son Jesse and wife Julia at City Point, VA between 1861 and 1865

Library of Congress

After the War with Mexico was over in 1848, Ulysses returned to White Haven in July of 1848 and Julia and Ulysses were married on August 22, 1848. The two went on to have 4 children: Frederick Dent Grant, Ulysses Simpson “Buck” Grant Jr., Ellen Wrenshall “Nellie” Grant, and Jesse Root Grant II.