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Family
His parents were Richard Falley Cleveland and Ann Neal. He was the fifth on nine children. His siblings were Anna Neal, William Neal, Mary Allen, Richard Cecil, Margaret Louise, Falley, Lewis Fredrick, Susan Sophia, and Rose Elizabeth. -
Birth
Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey. -
Education
When Cleveland was 14 he went to the Clinton Liberal Institute. -
Death of His Father
Cleveland's father died when he was 16. Due to this he could not go to college and was forced to work -
Work
Grover was never able to get a college education. He worked as a teacher in a school for the blind in NYC. He then worked as a clerk in a law firm in Buffalo, New York. He started his own law firm in 1862 -
Politics
Cleveland became the Sheriff of Erie County in 1871. He became the mayor of Buffalo in 1882. His reputation of an opponent against machine politics grew rapidly and he was persuaded to run for governor of New York. A job which he took office in 1883. He was very opposed to unnecessary government spending -
Presidency First Term
Cleveland was a democrat. Cleveland won presidency against his opponent Senator James G Blaine of Maine, who was involved in many scandals. He based political appointments on merit rather than party. He used veto much more than any other president before him. In 1886 he married his wife, which he is one of the only presidents to marry while in office. -
Marriage
Cleveland was married to Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston. She was married to him at 21 years old. She was the only first lady to be married in the White House. -
Presidency Second Term
Cleveland did not campaign for himself. It started with a railroad bankruptcy followed by many bank failures and a nationwide credit crisis. He was also very inconsistent with his views. He is known for strengthening the executive branch in relation to Congress. -
Legacy
Cleveland was known for holding the record of the most vetoes used by any president. He helped balance the power of the executive and legislative branches. He did not have a vision for the future. -
Death
Cleveland died of a heart attack at the age of 71. He died in Princeton, New Jersey
