Ulysses S Grant On The Fifty Dollar Bill

So, you're sipping your coffee, checking your wallet, and you see that familiar face staring back at you. Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, has been chillin' on the fifty-dollar bill since 2020. But hey, who was this guy, and why's he on our money?

Meet Ulysses

First things first, let's get the full name out of the way. Ulysses S. Grant, not to be confused with the famous author, was born in 1822. Now, you might be thinking, "Why the 'S'? Was his mom a big fan of secrets?" Nope, it's just an initial. His middle name was Simpson, but he never used it. Maybe he thought it didn't have the same ring to it as "Ulysses S. Grant". Can you blame him?

Growing up, young Ulysses wasn't exactly a bookworm. He was more of a "let's play outside and get dirty" kind of kid. But he did have one thing going for him - he was a natural leader. His dad even predicted he'd either be a great general or a highwayman. Spoiler alert: he chose the former.

From West Point to War

So, how does a kid from Ohio end up on our money? Well, it all started when Ulysses was 17. His dad pulled some strings and got him into West Point. Now, Ulysses wasn't exactly thrilled about this. He wrote to his sister, "I have no fondness for the service, no ambition to rise in it..." But hey, free education, right?

Fast forward a few years, and ol' Ulysses is fighting in the Mexican-American War. He's not just fighting, he's kicking butt and taking names. He even got a brevet (that's a fancy word for temporary) promotion to captain for his badassery.

Ulysses S. Grant face on US fifty or 50 dollars bill macro 21095224

Civil War Hero

But it's the Civil War that really put Ulysses on the map. He started out as a lowly captain, but by the end, he was leading the entire Union Army as a lieutenant general. Talk about a promotion!

He was a strategic genius, winning battle after battle. Lincoln loved him so much, he promoted him to General-in-Chief and then made him the highest-ranking officer in the army, the Lieutenant General. And guess who was the first person to hold that rank since George Washington? You got it - Ulysses S. Grant.

Why Is Grant On The $50 Bill at Katie Butters blog

From War Hero to President

After the war, Ulysses ran for president and won. Twice. He was the first sitting president to visit an active war zone (the Dominican Republic, in case you're wondering). He also fought for civil rights for African Americans and supported women's suffrage. Not bad for a guy who didn't even want to be in the army!

Why's He on the Fifty?

So, why did the Treasury Department decide to put Ulysses on the fifty? Well, they were looking to diversify the faces on our currency. They wanted to represent more than just white men. Ulysses was a natural choice. He was a war hero, a president, and he fought for civil rights. Plus, he's got a pretty badass beard. Who wouldn't want that on their money?

And there you have it, folks. The next time you see Ulysses S. Grant on your fifty-dollar bill, you can give him a little nod of respect. He earned it.