Hiram Ulysses Grant. That’s his name, alright. Our President Grant.
He was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio, U.S. He did a lot of things while he was on this planet. And then, on July 23, 1885, at the age of 63, Grant died in Wilton, New York, U.S. We all know his resting place. It is, as the old joke will tell you, Grant’s Tomb in New York City.
Ulysses Grant was the 18th President of the United States. He served in office from March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1877. Many also remember him as the leader of the United States Army Union Army during the Civil War. But he was a military man for a long time. His years of service went from 1839–1854 and then from 1861–1869. His highest rank was General of the Armies.
But all of this aside. I call him by another name. A nickname.
Old Lead Foot.
That’s right. Sure. He never drove a car, but boy oh boy, did he ever drive his horse buggy.
In fact. Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding in his horse buggy, in 1866.
Yes, indeed. This infraction occurred on April 9, 1866, exactly one year after Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. A newspaper, called the National Intelligencer, reported that Ulysses S. Grant. — our very good Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army — had been pulled over for speeding in his horse buggy in Washington, D.C.
Several newspapers of the time reported on this incident in Washington, D.C.
Apparently, two police officers detained Grant on 14th Street, where he was “exercising his fast gray nag.” When they first pulled him over, Grant offered to pay the fine. But after a few moments, Grant, being who he was, “expressed his doubts of their authority to arrest him.” So he got back in his buggy and drove off. My guess is he was tipping back that little silver flask in his coat pocket.
Anyway, Grant’s defiance wore off. He later acknowledged the warrant and then appeared before the justice of the court and paid the fine.
The newspaper’s report was reprinted in several other newspapers. The Daily Richmond Whig added this editorial comment in its April 11 edition: “It was a bad example in General Grant to violate a law, but a worse one to treat the officers of law with contempt.”
But then?
It happened again. This time, on Independence Day. On July 4, 1866, the Richmond Daily Dispatch and the National Intelligencer both ran articles about the crime. They stated that Grant was arrested a second time for speeding. In this incident, they said, Grant “took the arrest very good humoredly, said it was an oversight, and rode over to the Second Precinct station house and paid his fine.” Strike two, I think.
But then?
It happened again. Six years later, Grant allegedly was arrested for speeding — yet again — while he was U.S. president. That was the assertion of retired Washington D.C. police officer William West. He claimed that on September 27, 1908, he arrested Grant for driving his buggy way too fast. West also said that Grant enjoyed racing in speed contests with his friends on 13th Street, which set a bad example for other residents. West said he arrested Grant, who did not show up to court.
I can’t throw a stone at the man.
Admittedly, I drive a little too fast much of the time. I can’t help it. The speed limits they set just seem way too slow for where I’m going. No matter where I am going.
And Grant did some pretty big things for our United States. So I think I won’t let it bother me any that he liked to drive a little too fast. In fact. I might like him a bit more.
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“An unjust law is no law at all.” – St. Augustine
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“It is not the breaking of the law that is so important; it is the respect for the law.” – John F. Kennedy
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“One of the great challenges of life is knowing when to obey the law and when to defy it.” – Michael Watson
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