Stephen Grover Cleveland facts for kids

Stephen Grover Cleveland Facts For Kids -  social studies skills studied in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades.

22nd President of the USA

Stephen Grover Cleveland – The 22nd President
Interestingly, Grover Cleveland is also the 24th President of the United States. His first term was from 1885 to 1889 and the second term was from 1893 to 1897. He is the only President who has served for two terms that are non-consecutive. He belonged to the Democratic Party.
Early life
Stephen Grover Cleveland was born to Richard Falley Cleveland and Ann Cleveland on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey. His father was of English descent and his mother traced her roots back to Anglo-Irish Protestants and German Quakers of Philadelphia. Grover spent his childhood years in Fayetteville, New York to where his family had moved. His father was a pastor who moved constantly.
Formal education
Cleveland completed his early education at the Fayetteville Academy and the Clinton Liberal Academy. He left school to support his family when his father died and later moved west to Buffalo, New York, where he was introduced to the law firm of Rogers, Bowen, and Rogers by his influential uncle. He thus began reading for law and was admitted to the Bar in 1859. In 1862 he started his own law practice and he became assistant district attorney of Erie County in 1863. Continue reading below>>>

Family
Interestingly Cleveland was a bachelor when he became President and married only two years later in 1886 he married Frances Folsom in the Blue Room at the White House. He is the only President to be married in the White House and just the second who got married while in office. The couple had five children.
Career
In 1871, Cleveland became the Sheriff of Erie County, New York, aged 33. He returned to practice law when his term ended. In 1882 Cleveland became the Mayor of Buffalo as a Democrat. From 1883 to 1885 Cleveland served as the Governor of New York. He ran for President in the 1884 Presidential election and won despite issues of an illegitimate child being fathered by him surfacing. He stuck to the truth, saying that he had paid child support and ultimately won.
Though he was re-nominated in 1888 he lost to President Benjamin Harrison. He, however won the next Presidential election and returned to the White house in 1893. During this period he also underwent surgery for suspected malignant tumor in his mouth.
Though there were no states added to the Union during his first tenure, the Act enabling North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington to form state governments and to gain admission to the Union was passed in February 1889, just 10 days prior to his tenure closure.
Retired life
Post his retirement Cleveland went to his estate, Westland Mansion, in Princeton, New Jersey. Though he remained slightly politically active he did take up any posts, but served as a trustee of the Princeton University. He died aged 71 on June 24, 1908 due to a heart attack. There are many parks, schools and towns named for Cleveland in the United States. In 1923 a postage stamp was issued in his honor and he also featured on a few of the United States currency.