He was named Hiram Ulysses Grant at birth, but due to a congressman who appointed him to West Point, in doubt about his name, had used his middle name first and had used his mother's maiden name (Simpson) for a middle name. He graduated from West Point in 1843 and ranked 21st in a class of thirty-nine. In 1861 Lincoln appointed Grant a general of volunteers on the recommendations Illinois congressmen. In 1862 he was promoted to major general of volunteers. After Vicksburg fell and with winning the battle at Gettysburg the war looked as it would soon end and Grant was now promoted to major general in the regular army. On March 8, 1864 the first meeting of Lincoln and Grant took place where he was a guest of honor at the White House and on the following day was made lieutenant general. On April 7, 1865, Grant wrote to Lee: "The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle." Two days later upon learning that escape would be impossible; Lee arranged to meet Grant at Appomattox.

On July 25, 1866 the Congress established a new rank of general of the armies of the United States, to which Grant was immediately appointed. His first law that was signed was the Act to Strengthen the Public Credit to help strengthen the economy after the Civil War. In 1872 he was re-elected to office with a majority vote. On his retiring from office to set sail for a trip around the world as to which he was honored in other countries. After touring Mexico Grant had become president of Jay Gould's Mexican Southern Railroad. In 1885 Grant signed a contract with his friend Mark Twain to publish his "Memoirs." As an act of respect, Grant was placed on the list of retired generals. To honor Grant on his death three Presidents of the United States attended the burial services, and Union and Confederate Generals rode together in carriages.