‘Grant’ on History channel: Who were Ulysses S Grant's children and what happened after he was nearly broke?
Ulysses S Grant lived a long triumphant life and rose from being the greatest general to the eighteenth president of America. At the time of his death, he was one of the most famous men who stood alongside heroes like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
To honor his life and peep into the glories of the forgotten man, History Channel is airing a three-night miniseries 'Grant' with a seamless blend of dramatic scenes, expert commentary and beautifully enhanced archival imagery. As the series comes to a close, Grant (played by Justin Salinger) was seen struggling with monetary affairs. One day, Grant woke up to realize all his financial savings were stolen — he was left with $80 and his wife, Julia Dent, with $130. Nearly broke, Grant got an offer to pen down a memoir for 75 percent royalty from his friend, Mark Twain. A critical success, his book 'The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant' helped Julia get about $450,000 in royalties. As seen in the three-part docuseries, Grant died three days after he wrote the last page.
What happened to Grant's children after his death in 1885? Ulysses had three sons — Frederick, Ulysses Jr., and Jesse — and one daughter, Nellie.
Frederick Dent Grant
Named after his uncle, Frederick Tracy Dent, he went on to become a soldier and the United States minister to Austria-Hungary. In 1866, he was appointed to West Point and graduated in 1871. While was studying, he got embroiled in a major racist controversy. James Webster Smith became the first African American cadet to be admitted into the United States Military Academy and he had to suffer a lot of racism and violence from his mates. Accused of harassing Smith, Frederick allegedly told his then-president father, that “no damned nigger will ever graduate from West Point.”
In 1874, Grant married Ida Marie Honoré and had two children, Julia Dent Grant and Ulysses S Grant III. In 1912, he died and was the second most senior officer on active duty in the US Army at the time of his death.
Ulysses S Grant Jr
The second son of president Ulysses S Grant, he was an American attorney and entrepreneur. Born in Ohio in 1852, he graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1870, Harvard University in 1874 and finished his education at Columbia Law School in 1876. After serving as personal secretary to his father while he was president, he went on to be the Assistant United States Attorney in New York and later, purchased property throughout San Diego. Soon, he became a wealthy businessman and helped create the city park, which later came to be known as Balboa Park.
In 1880, Grant married Fannie Josephine Chaffee and the couple had five children, Miriam, Chaffee, Julia, Fannie and Ulysses IV. At the age of 77, he died while on a road trip and was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego.
Nellie Grant
The third child and only daughter of president Ulysses S Grant and first lady Julia Grant. she was sent abroad to England and was received by Queen Victoria when she was barely 16. A popular teenager, she was admired by her mates and was the first teenage girl in the White House since Abby Fillmore. At the age of 18, she was a celebrated lady after her Irish-Welsh marriage to Englishman Algernon Sartoris at the White House. The couple gave birth to two sons, Grant Grenville Edward Sartoris and Algernon Edward Sartoris, and two daughters, Vivien May Sartoris and Rosemary Alice Sartoris. Soon, there was trouble in paradise and the estranged couple sought divorce later on.
She then married an American man, Frank Jones, but within a few months, she became ill and died in 1922.
Jesse Root Grant
Born near St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest son of Ulysses and Julia went on to study engineering at Cornell University and then attended Columbia Law School. With a major interest in politics, he joined the Democratic Party and ran for president against William Jennings Bryan in 1908. In 1880, he married Elizabeth Chapman and the couple had two children, Chapman Grant and Nellie Grant. The pair went through a highly scandalous divorce in 1913 and his wife, Elizabeth said he left the family and refused to support them. They officially separated in 1918 and soon after, Grant got hitched to a widow, Lillian Burns Wilkins.
He penned down a biography of his father in 1925 and in 1934, he died and was buried at the cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.
With gritty depictions of brutal battles, risky gambles, crushing setbacks and triumphant victories, 'Grant' reflects on moments that defined the president and forever changed the nation. The miniseries premiered on Memorial Day and has been airing over three consecutive nights beginning Monday, May 25 at 9 pm ET on History Channel.