Theodore Roosevelt was the twenty-sixth president of the United States. He served in office from 1901 to 1909. With the assassination of President McKinley, Roosevelt, not quite 43, became the youngest President in the Nations history. Roosevelts youth was very different from most of the other Presidents. He was born in New York City in 1858 into a wealthy family. His life was plagued early on by health problems and illness which he overcame. The conquering of his ill health led to Roosevelt supporting a strenuous lifestyle. In 1884, his first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt, and his mother died on the same day.
Following their deaths, Roosevelt spent two years on his ranch in the Dakota Territory. At his ranch, he spent his time driving cattle, big game hunting and even captured an outlaw. During a trip to London, England, he married Edith Carow in December 1886. Roosevelt was a lieutenant colonel in the Rough Rider Regiment during the Spanish- American War. He was one of the most remembered heroes of the war, leading a charge at the battle of San Juan. In 1898, Roosevelt was accepted as the Republican candidate for governor of New York State. He won the election and served as governor with distinction.
He was elected as President in 1901 and served until 1909. Roosevelt was responsible for many great achievements during his tenure as President. He believed in fairness and justice while favoring no one over anyone else. Known vibrantly as a trust buster, Roosevelt forced a dissolution of a great railroad combination in the Northwest with more antitrust suits following under the Sherman Act. He was also responsible for the construction of the Panama Canal, the establishment of the U. S. right of intervention in Latin America, the prevention of foreign bases in the Caribbean, and numerous achievements in conservation.
During his Presidency, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo- Japanese War, reached a Gentlemens Agreement on immigration with Japan, and sent the Great White Fleet on a good will tour of the After leaving the White House in 1909, Roosevelt went to Africa on safari. Upon his return from Africa, he went back into politics. In 1912, Roosevelt ran for President and while campaigning in Milwaukee, he was shot in the chest by a fanatic. He recovered from his gunshot wound and lived until 1919. He was famous for using the quote Walk softly and carry a big stick.