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Primary sourcePainting1869

Ulysses S. Grant

Samuel Waugh · 1869

An 1869 oil portrait of Ulysses S. Grant in military uniform, painted by Samuel Waugh at the start of his presidency.

This portrait depicts Grant himself at the start of his presidency, still shown in his military uniform.

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Oil portrait of a bearded man with short dark hair, wearing a dark blue military uniform with a high collar, a black neckerchief, and shoulder boards with five stars. He faces forward with a serious expression against a warm brown background.
Samuel Waugh, Ulysses S. Grant, 1869. National Portrait Gallery.

About this source

What it is

This 1869 oil portrait by Samuel Waugh, held by the National Portrait Gallery, shows a bearded man with short dark hair wearing a dark blue military uniform with a high collar, a black neckerchief, and shoulder boards bearing five stars, facing forward with a serious expression.

Why it matters

Painted the year Grant became president, this portrait captures him still in military dress, emphasizing the career that brought him to national fame before he entered politics. It reflects how closely Grant's public identity was tied to his role as a Civil War general even as he began his presidency.

Look closer

  • Why might the artist choose to paint Grant in his military uniform rather than in civilian or presidential dress?
  • What does Grant's serious, direct expression suggest about how he wanted to be portrayed as a new president?
  • What is missing from this formal portrait about Grant's personal life or the challenges of his presidency?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ulysses S Grant on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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