Gen. Grant - Taken five days before his death at Mt. McGregor, New York

In 1884, Grant was diagnosed with throat cancer. Facing his imminent demise and the threat of financial ruin due to recent disastrous business dealings, Grant found himself in a race against time to complete his memoirs. His friend, famed author Mark Twain, provided invaluable assistance by arranging for a generous royalty agreement. Grant completed the manuscript just three days before his death. The memoirs were immediately popular, generating a small fortune for the Grant family after his passing.