Teddy Roosevelt came from a wealthy family in New York. He struggled with asthma as a child but was very active. He attended Harvard and then served in the New York State Assembly. His wife and mother passed away on the same day, which led him to flee to his ranch in the West. He later remarried and had five more children. Roosevelt went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, lead the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, become governor of New York, and eventually vice president and president of the United States. As president, he established many progressive policies and expanded the influence of the U.S. on the global stage.