His abilities as a teacher propelled him to be named president of the Eclectic Institute at just 26 years old. Well-educated and a skilled public speaker, Garfield was able to write and speak multiple languages, including Greek, Latin, and German. Officially, James Garfield was known to be the very first left-handed President however, he was ambidextrous. James Garfield Was Ambidextrous & Could Write in Multiple Languages at the Same Time James Garfield Statue, via Hiram College Upon graduating from the esteemed military academy, Grant placed 21st out of 39 students.ģ. As a commander, Grant rarely carried a sword and often wore lower ranking soldiers’ clothing and dirty boots. His dislike for uniforms carried on throughout his military career. But Grant did not start out as an exemplary recruit at West Point: he received many demerits for unkempt uniforms. Being head of the Union Army during the Civil War might have been his greatest feat. Grant, is known for his many victories on the battlefield. One of the finest Generals in United States history, Ulysses S. Grant Couldn’t Stand the Sight of Blood & Hated Uniforms General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Eventually, they would place White House staff in charge of turning the lights on and off.Ģ. Instead, they would leave all the lights on when they left a room or even at night when they slept.

They were fearful of electric shock from touching the light switches. The Harrisons were wary of the new technology. In fact, it was a decade later when electricity was put on display at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo as a readily available light source. The house was refurbished under the watchful eye of Caroline after it was wired for electricity in 1891.Įlectricity at that time was still very new, and most Americans were uncertain as to how safe it was to use. President Benjamin Harrison and his wife Caroline were the first to enjoy electricity in the White House. But one of the things new to the White House as it reached the nineteenth century was electricity. After all, it gets a new tenant every four to eight years. 1899, from the Library of Congress, via the White House Historical Associationīuilt in 1792, the White House has gone through many changes inside and out.

William Henry Harrison & Electricity in the White House 1A Light fixture converted from gas to electricity, c. During two of Kennedy's experiences he ended up in a coma, and during four of them, a priest went so far as to administer him his last rites.1. His fifth and final near-death experience came in 1954, when Kennedy developed a post-surgical urinary tract infection that was exacerbated yet again by his Addison's disease. When the illness recurred years later, Kennedy nearly died a fourth time. Brush number three came four years later, when Kennedy was hospitalized and diagnosed with Addison's disease, a rare adrenal disorder. While cruising the Pacific, a Japanese destroyer collided with his vessel and caused it to explode, after which Kennedy had to swim for four hours to find the nearest island.

His second brush occurred during World War II, when 26-year-old Kennedy was in the Navy. But did you also know that he had narrowly averted death five times before that fateful day? His first brush with death occurred in childhood: At age 2, Kennedy nearly died from scarlet fever. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. Kennedy survived five near-death experiences before his assassination. Truman also has an 'S' of unorthodox origin in his name: Although his parents gave him the middle initial 'S' in honor of his grandfathers, both of whom had S-names, it doesn't actually stand for anything.) When Grant ultimately received his diploma with the errant 'S' on it, he therefore resigned himself ever after to signing his name with it. Although Grant later tried to correct the mistake, West Point would not change its records. Grant' on the application, presumably because Grant's mother's maiden name was Simpson. When his congressman nominated him, he mistakenly wrote 'Ulysses S. As a young man, the story goes, Grant-whose given name was Hiram Ulysses Grant-was seeking admission to the U.S. But that distinguished 'S' is actually an accident. Grant is one of a handful of presidents who used a middle initial in his formal written name.

ShutterstockĪlong with the likes of Franklin D.

Interesting facts about us presidents