# Ulysses S. Grant — The Autobiography of Mark Twain character guide

> Ulysses S. Grant in The Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** General Grant, Grant, The Grant

**First appearance:** 0006-volume-i-the-grant-dictations

## Who they are

The former president and general whose quiet dignity and late-life memoir project draw Mark Twain into the publishing gamble of a lifetime.

## In the story

### [The Grant Dictations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-the-grant-dictations)

Former president and general; dictating his memoirs while terminally ill.

### [The Chicago G.A.R. Festival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-the-chicago-g-a-r-festival)

Guest of honor at the festival; Twain recalls meeting him in 1866 and 1879, and their exchange about embarrassment.

### [Grant and the Chinese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-grant-and-the-chinese)

Shows strong interest in China, declines compensation for helping with a railway syndicate, and writes a letter to Li Hung-Chang that reverses the Chinese government's decision on student schools.

### [A Call with W. D. Howells on General Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-a-call-with-w-d-howells-on-general-grant)

Agrees to help Howells; resists Twain's initial push to write memoirs; shares anecdotes about 'Squibob' Derby.

### [About General Grant's "Memoirs"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-about-general-grant-s-memoirs)

Author of the memoirs; suffering from throat cancer and financial hardship; discusses Ward's betrayal with Twain.

### [Gerhardt and the Grant Bust](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-gerhardt-and-the-grant-bust)

The subject of the bust; patient and cooperative during the sculpting process despite his illness.

### [The Reverend Doctor N⸺ Visits General Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-i-the-reverend-doctor-n-visits-general-grant)

Lying near death; the nation awaits news of his passing; described as a plainspoken, good man who was not a praying man.

### [Monday, February 26, 1906](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-ii-monday-february-26-1906)

Mark Twain visits General Grant upon arriving in New York.

### [Wednesday, March 7, 1906](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-ii-wednesday-march-7-1906)

Visited by Twain earlier in the day before the trip to Vassar.

### [Monday, March 12, 1906](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/volume-ii-monday-march-12-1906)

Referenced indirectly through the mention of Civil War battles.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/chapters/endnotes)

His Memoirs were published by Mark Twain; his death noted.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/characters/general_grant
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_twain_se/characters