Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was an American politician, naturalist, conservationist, historian, and writer who served as the 26th president of the United States. Born in New York City to a prominent family. He was home schooled, followed by Harvard, graduating in 1880. He became a member of the New York State Assembly in 1882 and entered national politics at the 1884 GOP Convention. In 1888 he joined the U. S. Civil Service Commission, where he tackled the spoils system. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1896, where he served until war with Spain. Roosevelt promptly resigned and helped form a volunteer cavalry known as the Rough Riders. He famously led a charge up Kettle Hill, a moment he referred to as “the great day of my life.

He became governor of New York in 1898, Vice President in 1900, and assumed the presidency when McKinley was assassinated in 1901. His presidency was highly productive. He curtailed the abuses of trusts and monopolies; he facilitated the building of the Panama Canal; he mediated the peace conference that ended the Russo-Japanese War and earned him the 1906 Nobel Prize.  He used federal power to regulate railroad rates and end abuses in the meat-packing industry. He was most proud of his conservation efforts, which included establishing the U. S. Forest Service and creating five National Parks.

He left office in 1909 and went on safari in Africa, followed by a European tour, returning to America in 1910. He sought but failed to win the Republican nomination in 1912. He and others formed a Progressive Party but failed to win the election. During 1913 and 1914 Roosevelt made an expedition into the Brazilian jungle. Returning to the United States in 1914, he campaigned for the Progressive Party, which did poorly and disappeared after the 1916 elections.  During the First World War, Roosevelt avidly supported the Allies and got Congressional authorization to form a regiment of volunteers.  His son Quentin served as a pilot in France and was shot down at age 20.  Roosevelt was devastated by the loss and died the next year. He is remembered as one of the five best presidents of all time.