Grover Cleveland

Born in Caldwell, New Jersey, in 1837, Grover Cleveland grew up in a modest family headed by a Presbyterian minister. After his father's death, he worked his way into the law and built his career in Buffalo, where his reputation for honesty and independence helped him rise quickly through public office.

Cleveland served as mayor of Buffalo, governor of New York, and then became the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897. He is still the only president to return to the office after a break in service. Historians and reference works consistently describe him as a reform-minded leader who was willing to veto bills he saw as wasteful or improper.

His presidency unfolded during the tensions of the Gilded Age, including debates over tariffs, patronage, and the role of the federal government. He married Frances Folsom in the White House in 1886, a rare presidential wedding, and after leaving office he spent his final years in Princeton, New Jersey, where he died in 1908.