1822-1885. 18th president of the USA 1869-77.
He was a Union general in the American Civil
War and commander in chief from 1864. As a
Republican president, he carried through a
liberal Reconstruction policy in the South,
although he failed to suppress extensive
political corruption within his own party and
cabinet, which tarnished the reputation of
his presidency. The son of an Ohio farmer, he
had an unsuccessful career in the army
1839-54 and in business, and on the outbreak
of the Civil War received a commission on the
Mississippi front. He took command there in
1862, and by his capture of Vicksburg in 1863
brought the whole Mississippi front under
Northern control. He slowly wore down the
Confederate General Lee's resistance, and in
1865 received his surrender at Appomattox. He
was elected president 1868 and re-elected
1872.