Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was a Union general during the American Civil War and served as the 18th President of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General of the U.S. Army, he led Union forces to victory over the Confederacy and accepted Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865. During his presidency, he signed the 15th Amendment, worked to protect African American rights during Reconstruction, and oversaw the establishment of Yellowstone National Park. He is best known for his military leadership in key Union victories at Vicksburg and Chattanooga and for his post-war efforts to rebuild the nation and safeguard the rights of freedmen.