Theodore Roosevelt was a man of great energy, and practiced what he called the "strenuous life." He enjoyed horseback riding, swimming, hunting, hiking, and boxing. As commander of the fearless Rough Riders, Roosevelt became a national hero during the Spanish-American War in 1898, leading the famous cavalry regiment against the Spaniards in Cuba. He came home and won election as Governor of New York. Two years later, he was elected Vice-President.

What makes Theodore Roosevelt's life even more remarkable is the fact that this very energetic adult was a rather puny and sickly child who fought a variety of childhood ailments.

Chronology of His Life and Career

	October 27, 1858	Born in New York City New York.
	1880	Graduated from Harvard University.
	1880	Bought land in Oyster Bay, New York, on which he built Sagamore Hill.
	October 27, 1880	Married Alice Hathaway Lee.
	1881	Elected to the New York State Assembly; re-elected in 1882 and 1883.
	February 14, 1884	Alice Hathaway Roosevelt died; Theodore's mother died.
	1884	Bought two cattle ranches on the Little Missouri River in the Dakota Territory.
	1886	Defeated in bid for Mayor of New York City.
	December 2, 1886	Married Edith Kermit Carow.
	1889	Appointed to the U. S. Civil Service Commission; re-appointed in 1893.
	1895	Named president of the Board of Police Commissioners in New York City.
	1896	Named Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
	1898	Led the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War.
	1898	Elected Governor of New York.
	1900	Elected Vice-President of the United States.
	September 14, 1901	Became President upon the death of William McKinley.
	1904	Elected to a full term as President.
	1906	Received the Nobel Prize for Peace for his role in mediating an end to the Russo-Japanese War.
	1909-1910	Hunted big game in Africa.
	1912	Ran for President on the Progressive Party ticket.
	October 14, 1912	Shot while preparing to give a speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
	January 6, 1919	Died at his home in Oyster Bay, New York.
	1963	The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site was established.

Books By Theodore Roosevelt

The Naval War of 1812
The Winning of the West
Strenuous Life
Theodore Roosevelt; an Autobiography

Notes and Trivia

Roosevelt was the first American to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. He was also one of only two U. S. Presidents to be so honored -- the other being Jimmy Carter.

Links Of Interest

The West www.pbs.org
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site www.nps.gov/thrb/

See Also

Rough Riders
Spanish-American War
Cuba
New York City
William McKinley
Nobel Prize for Peace

Questions or comments about this page?

This page was last updated on January 06, 2019.