Ulysses S. Grant Trivia Questions

Dying of throat cancer and nearly bankrupt, Grant finished his memoirs in 1885. Mark Twain published them, and the book became a bestseller, securing his family's finances.

During the Civil War, Grant smoked up to 20 cigars daily—a habit that worsened his throat cancer. He even received thousands of cigars as gifts from fans.

This is a persistent myth. While Grant struggled with alcohol at times, his drinking never impaired his military performance, and witnesses dismissed the rumors as exaggerated.

Grant actually excelled in mathematics at West Point, graduating 21st out of 39. He was an exceptional horseman but disliked military drills and strict discipline.

Grant's administration was marred by several scandals, including the Whiskey Ring and the Credit Mobilier affair, though Grant himself was never proven corrupt.

He was born Hiram Ulysses Grant. The 'S' came from a congressional appointment error, and he kept it because his initials H.U.G. were embarrassing.

No such letter exists. Grant respected Lee but never apologized for military victories; he demanded unconditional surrender at Fort Donelson and accepted Lee's at Appomattox.

In 1877, Grant became the first sitting president to leave the U.S., traveling around the world for two years after his presidency ended—a diplomatic triumph.