In its over 200 years of existence, the United States of America has been led by presidents of all shapes and sizes.

This story is about our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, who had the biggest personality of them all.

Theodore Roosevelt was born in the state of New York on October 27, 1858.

Even though he grew up with asthma, he loved exercise and the outdoors. Some of his favorite hobbies were hiking, swimming, and riding horses.

He also loved to learn and discover more about the world, and spent much of his childhood traveling throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Theodore Roosevelt at age 7

In September of 1876, Theodore Roosevelt started his college education at Harvard University.

He studied a variety of different subjects, including one of his favorites: natural science.

By the time he graduated in 1880, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life: dedicate himself to public service.

Theodore Roosevelt found quick success as a politician, despite his youthful age. When he was just 23, he was elected to the New York State Assembly.

There, he took part in New York's law-making process, proposing and approving bills to become laws on the state constitution.

However, his career in public service quickly came to a halt. In February of 1884, his dear wife, Alice, died just two days after giving birth to their first child.

Theodore Roosevelt struggled in his work after her death, and resigned from his position in the State Assembly later in the same year.

Alice Lee,

Theodore Roosevelt's beloved first wife

After leaving the State Assembly, Theodore Roosevelt decided to wildly change his way of life. He moved from New York to North Dakota, where he lived as a cowboy.

Theodore Roosevelt did well as a cowboy. He managed a herd of cattle, went on hunting trips, and even caught outlaws on the frontier.

Theodore Roosevelt dressed as a cowboy

Theodore Roosevelt and his family in 1903

However, Theodore Roosevelt was destined for more than cowboy life. He returned to New York and public service after two years in North Dakota.

Theodore Roosevelt also got married again to a woman named Edith, with whom he would have five children.

Suddenly, in 1898, the U.S. and Spain were at war with each other. Theodore Roosevelt jumped at the chance to join the fight.

He deiced to begin his own cavalry unit, enlisting a band of cowboys from Texas. He and his cowboy comrades were known as the Rough Riders, and the stories of their adventures during the war were told of far and wide throughout the U.S.

Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in Cuba

Theodore Roosevelt was a national hero after the war. He was elected governor of New York, and worked tirelessly to improve his home state.

Two years after becoming governor, Roosevelt rose even higher in the U.S. He was elected Vice President under William McKinley in 1900.

Theodore Roosevelt campaigning

Theodore Roosevelt's time as Vice President was very short lived. Not even a year after being elected, President William McKinley was shot and killed, making Roosevelt the new U.S. President. He was only 43, and was the youngest U.S. President ever at the time.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail - the place where Roosevelt was inaugurated as President

President Roosevelt inspecting the Canal's progress

Being president was the perfect job for Roosevelt. He had immense popularity with U.S. citizens, earning the nickname, "Teddy".

Roosevelt was a major part of making the U.S. into the nation it is today. He used his love for natural science to open up several new National Parks in the country.

Roosevelt used his love for travel in a huge way. He wanted to create a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and so the Panama Canal was built.