Trivia: What does the “S” in Ulysses S. Grant stand for?
Samuel
Simpson
Sawyer
Nothing
The correct answer is Nothing
So why is this answer correct? : Although he’s one of the most important figures in U.S. history, few Americans know Ulysses S. Grant’s real name. Born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, Grant went by Ulysses at a young age — but the “S” is a clerical error. When Grant attended West Point in 1839, his name was recorded as Ulysses S. Grant. He tried to fix the error but was unsuccessful — luckily for him, U.S. Grant has a nice ring to it.