.jpg&width=600)
Theodore Roosevelt
Lieutenant Colonel, 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders)
"I rose over the crest of the hill. San Juan Hill fell to us."
Biography
Theodore Roosevelt resigned his post as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to raise and command the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry — a unit the press nicknamed the Rough Riders — composed of cowboys, Native Americans, athletes, and Ivy League gentlemen united by Roosevelt's force of personality. At the Battle of San Juan Heights on July 1, 1898, he personally led the charge up Kettle Hill on horseback — the only mounted officer in the assault. His conspicuous bravery became the defining image of the war and launched one of the most consequential political careers in American history. Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 2001 after a century-long review determined the original denial had been politically motivated.
Did you know?
Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to win both the Medal of Honor (awarded posthumously in 2001) and the Nobel Peace Prize (1906 for brokering the Treaty of Portsmouth ending the Russo-Japanese War).
Key Battles
Battle of San Juan Hill
United States victoryJuly 1, 1898 · 1,978 total casualties
San Juan Hill became the defining image of the war and launched Theodore Roosevelt toward the presidency. The Buffalo Soldiers' contributions, though long overlooked, were essential to the victory. The heights commanded Santiago de Cuba, and their capture meant the city's fall was only a matter of time.
Life Journey
Timeline
October 27, 1858
🌅 Birth
Born in Manhattan, New York City
1876–1880
📚 Education
Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1897–1898
📍 Posting
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Washington D.C.
July 1, 1898
⚔️ Battle
Leads Rough Riders charge at Kettle Hill / San Juan Heights, Cuba
1899–1900
📍 Posting
Governor of New York, Albany
September 14, 1901
📍 Posting
Becomes 26th President of the United States, Washington D.C.
January 6, 1919
✝️ Death
Died at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, New York