Historians In Awe Over Discovery At Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Property

Ulysses S. Grant Paid Slaves For Their Service

Grant had control of five slaves that were owned by his wife before joining the Union Army and only had one slave of his own, a man named William Jones who served the 18th POTUS from 1857 to 1859. Despite falling on hard times, Grant freed Jones rather than selling him to a new owner for $1,500, a large sum at the time.

Later, while fighting in the Civil War, Grant would enlist displaced slaves into the Union War. Every man he employed received pay for their service to the United States. Grant stood up for the former slaves he employed, ordering his white soldiers to provide them with proper food and shelter.

U.S. Presidents were not the only respected politicians and businessmen who owned slaves. Keep reading to learn about other respected members of society who owned slaves during the fight to free them.