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Primary sourcePhotographc. 1861-1865

Ulysses S. Grant Photographed by Mathew Brady

Mathew Brady · c. 1861-1865

A wartime studio portrait of Ulysses S. Grant taken by photographer Mathew Brady during the Civil War era.

A wartime studio portrait of Grant as a Union general, taken by the leading photographer of the era.

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Black and white studio portrait of a bearded man with short dark hair in a dark military-style uniform with shoulder straps, a white shirt and bow tie, a vest, one hand in his trouser pocket and the other holding his jacket front, against a gray backdrop.
Mathew Brady, Ulysses S. Grant, c. 1861-1865.

About this source

What it is

This black-and-white studio photograph shows Ulysses S. Grant in a military uniform. It was taken by Mathew Brady, probably sometime between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War.

Why it matters

Brady was one of the most famous photographers of the Civil War era, and his portraits helped shape how the public saw military leaders like Grant. This image is a standard reference portrait used to show Grant as the Union general he was during the war.

Look closer

  • What does Grant's pose and uniform suggest about how he wanted to be seen?
  • Why were studio portraits like this one important for building a public image during wartime?
  • What does this photograph not tell us about Grant as a person or soldier?

This photograph 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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