James Garfield (U.S. president)
James Garfield (b. on November 19, 1831, in Orange Township, Ohio) was the 20th president of the United States. He served from March 4, 1881, until his assassination on September 19, 1881. He was 49 when he died.
Garfield was a member of the Republican Party. His vice president was Chester Arthur (1829–1886), who succeeded him upon his death.
Prior to serving as president, Garfield worked as a college president, a military general, and a nine-term member of the United States House of Representatives.[1]
Biography
Timeline of life events
Below is an abbreviated outline of Garfield's professional and political career:[1][2]
- 1831: Born in Orange Township, Ohio
- 1851-1854: Attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later renamed Hiram College)
- 1856: Graduated from Williams College
- 1859-1861: Served in the Ohio State Senate
- 1861: Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the Union Army
- 1862-1880: Served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 19th Congressional District
- 1880: Elected president of the United States
- September 19, 1881: Died after being shot by Charles Guiteau
Before the presidency
James Abram Garfield was born on November 19, 1831, in Orange Township, Ohio. He was the last U.S. president to be born in a log cabin. Garfield's father, who was a wrestler, died when Garfield was two. Garfield attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later renamed Hiram College) from 1851 to 1854. He later enrolled at Williams College and graduated in 1856. Garfield then worked as an instructor of classics at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute. Less than a year after returning to Western Reserve, he became the institute's president. In 1859, Garfield was elected to the Ohio State Senate. He served until 1861. In 1861, Garfield was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the Union Army and later promoted to brigadier general. He was the commander of a brigade at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862.[1][2]
In October 1862, Garfield was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 19th Congressional District. As a member of Congress, Garfield advocated for abolition and supported an effort to confiscate southern plantations from slave owners. He served in Congress until 1880 when he was elected president of the United States. Garfield and his running mate, Chester Arthur, defeated Democratic candidate Winfield S. Hancock and Greenback candidate James Weaver.[1][2]
Presidency
Although his presidency only lasted 200 days, Garfield was able to reform the Post Office Department and strengthen federal authority over the New York Customs House. Garfield also advocated for civil rights for blacks, recommended a universal education system funded by the federal government, and invited all American republics to a conference in Washington, although it never took place.[1][2]
Garfield's presidency was cut short when he was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a mentally disturbed lawyer and writer with a grievance, on July 2, 1881, according to PBS. He did not die immediately from the two gunshot wounds. An infection that developed because of the wounds led to his death on September 19, 1881. Guiteau was convicted of murder and executed in June 1882.[3]
Personal
Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph, and they had seven children.[1]
Elections
1880 presidential election
On November 2, 1880, Garfield defeated Democrat Winfield S. Hancock and Greenback James Weaver in the general election for the United States presidency.
| U.S. presidential election, 1880 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Republican |  James Garfield/Chester Arthur |
48.4% | 4,454,416 | 214 | |
| Democratic | Winfield S. Hancock/William Hayden English | 48.3% | 4,444,952 | 155 | |
| Greenback | James Weaver/Barzillai J. Chambers | 3.4% | 308,578 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 9,207,946 | 369 | |||
| Election results via: 1880 official election results | |||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rutherford B. Hayes (R) |
President of the United States March 4, 1881 – September 19, 188 |
Succeeded by Chester Arthur (R) |
| |||||||
