Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) was an American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer who served as the
26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. Sickly as a child, Roosevelt overcame his health problems by embracing a strenuous lifestyle, becoming a published author, rancher, and
Republican mayoral candidate by his late twenties. In the
Spanish–American War, Roosevelt rose to national fame through his service with the
Rough Riders. In 1898 he was elected governor of New York, and two years later he was made
William McKinley's running mate in the
election of 1900. When the latter
was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt—then aged 42—became the youngest United States President in history, promoting conservation and expanding the
Navy.
Photograph: Pach Brothers; restoration: Chris Woodrich