Explanation: General Grant, most famous for his service during the US Civil War, has something of a reputation as a hard drinker. The truth is a bit more complex - he seemed to drink heavily when idle and lonely (such as when he was a junior officer posted far from his family), but not while occupied or in command. That being said, he apparently had an astounding ability to recover from hangovers rapidly after a night of hard drinking!

He is without a doubt my favourite US president to read about. Not a perfect character, but a deeply complex one with interesting contradictory morals. Arguably, I'd say he is the best president the states ever had.