Julia Grant
| Julia Grant | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| First Lady of the United States | |
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In role March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877 |
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| President | Ulysses Grant |
| Preceded by | Eliza Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Lucy Hayes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Julia Boggs Dent January 26, 1826 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 1902 (aged 76) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Ulysses Grant (1848–1885) |
| Children |
Frederick Ulysses Nellie Jesse |
| Religion | Methodism |
| Signature |  |
Julia Boggs Dent Grant (January 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902), was the First Lady of the United States and wife of Ulysses S. Grant. Her time as First Lady was a turning point where the First Lady went from local hostess to national figure.
Julia Boggs Dent was born on January 26, 1826 at White Haven plantation west of St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents were Frederick and Ellen Wrenshaw Dent, a slaveholding planter and merchant. Frederick owned about thirty enslaved African-Americans and refused to consider freeing them on moral ground, doing so only when compelled by law of emancipation.
Julia was the fifth of eight children. In her memoirs, Julia described her childhood as "one long summer of sunshine, flowers, and smiles…"
Around 1831-1836, Julia attended the Gravois School, a co-educational one room schoolhouse in St. Louis. From age 10 to age 17, Julia attended the Misses Mauros' boarding school in St. Louis with the daughters of other affluent parents. Julia was boarding student during the week and returned home to White Haven on weekends.
The Dent family was highly social, with visitors coming from among the elite class of Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburgh.William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) and politician Alexander McNair were family friends.
As a young woman, Julia was a skilled pianist, an expert horsewoman, and a voracious reader of novels.
Julia was born with strabismus (more commonly known as "crossed eyes") which prevents both eyes from lining up in the same direction. When she was younger, one of the best surgeons in the country offered to perform the simple operation that would fix them. Julia wasn’t keen on surgery, however, and declined.
After her husband became president, Julia reconsidered surgery. “I never had the courage to consent, but now that my husband had become so famous I really thought it behooved me to try to look as well as possible.” Ulysses objected: “Did I not see you and fall in love with you with these same eyes? I like them just as they are, and now, remember, you are not to interfere with them. They are mine, and let me tell you, Mrs. Grant, you had better not make any experiments, as I might not like you half so well with any other eyes.”
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