About U.S. Grant
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Serves High School students in grades 9th through 12th.
School Hours
7:35 am - 2:25 pmSchool Mascot: Generals
Established in 1953.
School Named for: President Ulysses S. Grant
Other School Facts:
- Located in Board District 6
- US Congressional District 5
- State Senate District 44
- State House District 93
- County Commissioner District 2
- City County Ward OKC 4
What's in a Name:
Ulysses S. Grant was born at Point Pleasant, Ohio on April 27,1822. He graduated from West Point in 1843 and married Julia Boggs Dent in 1848.
When the Civil War began, Grant saw his chance to return to the army and joined the Union as a volunteer in June of 1861. By August he was promoted to Brigadier General. A series of successful battles followed, and when he captured Vicksburg in 1863, he was made Commander-in-Chief of the western area. In 1864, President Lincoln put him in command of all land forces, and he was made a full General—the first since George Washington.
On April 9,1865, he accepted Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and showed his respect and sensitivity for the defeated Confederate troops in the following statement: “The war is over, the rebels are again our countrymen, and the best sign of rejoicing will be to abstain from all demonstrations in the field.”
After serving in the cabinet when the war was over, Grant was elected President in 1868 and was re-elected in 1872. Although he had proven himself an outstanding general, he was less successful as President. He made a series of bad appointments and after the impeachment of one of his cabinet secretaries, he lost his bid for a third nomination. After leaving the Presidency, he toured the world with his wife and son and was well received wherever he went. Grant died on July 23,1885.