James Abram Garfield
20th President of the United States
In office March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
Vice President	Chester A. Arthur (1881)
Preceded by	Rutherford B. Hayes
Succeeded by	Chester A. Arthur
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 19th district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	Albert G. Riddle
Succeeded by	Ezra B. Taylor
Born	November 19, 1831(1831-11-19) Moreland Hills, Ohio
Died	September 19, 1881 (aged 49) Elberon (Long Branch), New Jersey
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lucretia Rudolph Garfield
Alma mater	Williams College
Occupation	Lawyer, Educator, Minister
Religion	Disciples of Christ
Signature

James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831–September 19, 1881) was the twentieth President of the United States, and, as a result of his assassination, served only six months in that office—the second shortest administration in United States history. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Chester Alan Arthur (October 5 1829 &ndash November 18 1886 was an American politician who served as the twenty-first President of the United States. Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4 1822 January 17 1893 was an American politician, lawyer, military leader and the nineteenth Chester Alan Arthur (October 5 1829 &ndash November 18 1886 was an American politician who served as the twenty-first President of the United States. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads Ohio's 19th congressional district was created following the 1830 census and was eliminated after the 2000 census. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Userpolbot from http//bioguidecongressgov/scripts/biodisplaypl?index=R000238 Userpolbot from http//bioguidecongressgov/scripts/biodisplaypl?index=T000073 Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Moreland Hills is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Elberon is an unincorporated area that is part of Long Branch in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Lucretia Rudolph Garfield ( April 19, 1832 &ndash March 14, 1918) wife of James A Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Williams College is a highly selective private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Prior to his election as president, Garfield served as a major general in the United States Army and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as a member of the Electoral Commission of 1876. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Please DO NOT flip the colors --> The United States presidential election of 1876 was one of the most disputed and intense presidential elections in American history Garfield was the second U. S. President to be assassinated—Abraham Lincoln was the first. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal President Garfield, a Republican, had been in office a scant four months when he was shot and fatally wounded on July 2, 1881. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He lived until September 19, having served for six months and fifteen days. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Only William Henry Harrison, who served in office for only 31 days, had a shorter presidency. This article is about the general and president For his great-great-grandson see William H To date, Garfield is the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to have been elected President.

Early life

Garfield at age 16

Birthplace of James Garfield

Garfield was born in Orange Township, now Moreland Hills, Ohio of Welsh ancestry. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States is divided into twenty-one townships. Moreland Hills is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. His father, Abram Garfield, died in 1833, when James Abram was 17 months old; he was brought up and cared for by his mother, Eliza Ballou, a brother, and an uncle. ^[1] In Orange Township, Garfield attended school, a predecessor of the Orange City Schools. Orange High School is a Public high school located in Pepper Pike, Ohio, an eastern suburb in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area and part From 1851 to 1854, he attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later named Hiram College) in Hiram, Ohio. Hiram College is a private liberal arts college located in Hiram Ohio. Hiram is a village in Portage County, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Hiram Township in the Connecticut He then transferred to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he was a brother of Delta Upsilon fraternity. Williams College is a highly selective private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. Delta Upsilon ( ΔY) is the 6th oldest international all-male college Greek-letter social fraternity and is the first non-secret fraternity ever He graduated in 1856 as an outstanding student who enjoyed all subjects except chemistry. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties After preaching a short time at Franklin Circle Christian Church (1857-58), Garfield ruled out preaching and considered a job as principal of a high school in Poestenkill, New York. Poestenkill is a Town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. ^[2] After losing that job to another applicant, he taught at the Eclectic Institute. Garfield was an instructor in classical languages for the 1856–1857 academic year, and was made principal of the Institute from 1857 to 1860. A classical language, is a language with a Literature that is "classical"&mdashie "it should be ancient it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly

The Garfield homestead.

On November 11, 1858, he married Lucretia Rudolph. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Lucretia Rudolph Garfield ( April 19, 1832 &ndash March 14, 1918) wife of James A They had seven children (five sons and two daughters): Eliza Arbella Garfield (1860–63); Harry Augustus Garfield (1863–1942); James Rudolph Garfield (1865–1950); Mary Garfield (1867–1947); Irvin M. Harry Augustus "Hal" Garfield ( October 11, 1863 &ndash December 12, 1942) was an American lawyer and Academic For his father the 20th President of the United States, see James Abram Garfield. Garfield (1870–1951); Abram Garfield (1872–1958); and Edward Garfield (1874–76). One son, James R. Garfield, followed him into politics and became Secretary of the Interior under President Theodore Roosevelt. The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior. Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T In the mid-1860s, Garfield had an affair with Lucia Calhoun, which he later admitted to his wife, who forgave him. ^[3]

Garfield decided that the academic life was not for him and studied law privately. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1860. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads A bar association is a Professional body of Lawyers Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their Jurisdiction Even before admission to the bar, he entered politics. He was elected an Ohio state senator in 1859, serving until 1861. He was a Republican all his political life.

Military career

James Abram Garfield
November 19, 1831 - September 19, 1881 (age 49)
General James A. Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Garfield
Place of birth	Moreland Hills, Ohio
Place of death	Long Branch, New Jersey
Allegiance	United States of America
Years of service	1861 - 1863
Rank	Major General
Commands held	42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry 20th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio
Battles/wars	*American Civil War *Battle of Shiloh *Siege of Corinth *Battle of Chickamauga *Battle of Middle Creek
Other work	U.S. Representative from Ohio, 20th President of the United States

With the start of the Civil War, Garfield enlisted in the Union Army, and was assigned to command the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Moreland Hills is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Long Branch is a City in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Background and opposing forces After the losses of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862 Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston withdrew The Siege of Corinth (also known as the First Battle of Corinth) was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to June 10, Initial movements in the Chickamauga Campaign In his successful Tullahoma Campaign in the summer of 1863 Rosecrans moved southeast from Murfreesboro Tennessee The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. General Don Carlos Buell assigned Colonel Garfield the task of driving Confederate forces out of eastern Kentucky in November 1861, giving him the 18th Brigade for the campaign. Don Carlos Buell (March 23 1818 &ndash November 19 1898 was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican-American War The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. In December, he departed Catlettsburg, Kentucky, with the 40th and 42nd Ohio and the 14th and 22nd Kentucky infantry regiments, as well as the 2nd (West) Virginia Cavalry and McLoughlin's Squadron of Cavalry. Catlettsburg is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States. The march was uneventful until Union forces reached Paintsville, Kentucky, where Garfield's cavalry engaged the Confederate cavalry at Jenny's Creek on January 6, 1862. Paintsville is a city in Johnson County, Kentucky, United States. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday The Confederates, under Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall, withdrew to the forks of Middle Creek, two miles (3 km) from Prestonsburg, Kentucky, on the road to Virginia. Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. Humphrey Marshall ( January 13, 1812 &ndash March 28, 1872) was a four-term Antebellum United States Congressman and a Prestonsburg is a city in and the County seat of Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Garfield attacked on January 9. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. At the end of the day's fighting, the Confederates withdrew from the field, but Garfield did not pursue them. He ordered a withdrawal to Prestonsburg so he could resupply his men. Prestonsburg is a city in and the County seat of Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. His victory brought him early recognition and a promotion to the rank of brigadier general on January 11. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire.

Garfield served as a brigade commander under Buell at the Battle of Shiloh and under Thomas J. Wood in the subsequent Siege of Corinth. Background and opposing forces After the losses of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862 Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston withdrew Thomas John Wood (September 25 1823&ndashFebruary 26 1906 was a career United States Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil The Siege of Corinth (also known as the First Battle of Corinth) was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to June 10, His health deteriorated and he was inactive until autumn, when he served on the commission investigating the conduct of Fitz John Porter. The Court-martial of Fitz John Porter ( November 25, 1862 January 22, 1863) was a major event of the American Civil War Fitz John Porter ( August 31, 1822 &ndash May 21, 1901) (sometimes written FitzJohn Porter) was a career United States Army In the spring of 1863, Garfield returned to the field as Chief of Staff for William S. Rosecrans, commander of the Army of the Cumberland. William Starke Rosecrans ( September 6, 1819 &ndash March 11, 1898) was an inventor coal-oil company executive diplomat politician and The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War.

Later political career

An 1881 Puck cartoon shows Garfield finding a baby at his front door with a tag marked "Civil Service Reform, compliments of R.B. Hayes". Puck was America's first successful Humor magazine known for its sharp humor and colorful Cartoon Caricatures satirizing the political Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4 1822 January 17 1893 was an American politician, lawyer, military leader and the nineteenth Hayes, his predecessor in the presidency is seen in the background dressed like a woman and holding a bag marked "R. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by B. Hayes' savings, Fremont, Ohio". Fremont is a city in and the County seat of Sandusky County, Ohio, United States.

In 1863, he re-entered politics, being elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 38th Congress. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. The Thirty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government consisting of the United States Senate and Garfield was promoted to major general after the Battle of Chickamauga, shortly after he had been elected. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries Initial movements in the Chickamauga Campaign In his successful Tullahoma Campaign in the summer of 1863 Rosecrans moved southeast from Murfreesboro Tennessee He left the army and returned to Ohio to take his seat in Congress. He succeeded in gaining re-election every two years up through 1878. In the House during the Civil War and the following Reconstruction era, he was one of the most hawkish Republicans. In 1872, he was one of many congressman involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal. The Crédit Mobilier of America scandal of 1872 involved the Union Pacific Railroad and the Crédit Mobilier of America construction company Garfield denied the charges against him and it did not put too much of a strain on his political career since the actual impact of the scandal was difficult to determine. In 1876, when James G. Blaine moved from the House to the United States Senate, Garfield became the Republican floor leader of the House. James Gillespie Blaine ( January 31, 1830 &ndash January 27, 1893) was a U The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the Legislature.

In 1876, Garfield was a Republican member of the Electoral Commission that awarded 22 hotly-contested electoral votes to Rutherford B. Hayes in his contest for the Presidency against Samuel J. Tilden. Please DO NOT flip the colors --> The United States presidential election of 1876 was one of the most disputed and intense presidential elections in American history Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4 1822 January 17 1893 was an American politician, lawyer, military leader and the nineteenth Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are Samuel Jones Tilden ( February 9, 1814 August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the U That year, he also purchased the property in Mentor that reporters later dubbed Lawnfield, and from which he would go on to conduct the first successful front porch campaign for the Presidency. Mentor is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 50278 at the 2000 census. James A Garfield National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in Mentor Ohio. A front porch campaign is low-key electoral campaign used in American politics in which the candidate remains close to or at home to make speeches to supporters who The home is now maintained by the National Park Service as the James A. Garfield National Historic Site. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation James A Garfield National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in Mentor Ohio.

Election of 1880

Main article: 1880 Republican National Convention

Main article: United States presidential election, 1880

In 1880, Garfield's life underwent tremendous change with the publication of the Morey letter, and the end of Democratic U. The 1880 Republican National Convention convened from June 2 to June 8 1880 at the Interstate Exposition Building in Chicago, Illinois, United States The United States presidential election of 1880 was largely seen as a referendum on the Republicans' relaxation of Reconstruction efforts in the southern states On October 20 1880, the New York newspaper The Truth, published a letter that was supposed to have been written by Presidential candidate James Garfield The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. S. Senator Allen Granberry Thurman's term. Allen Granberry Thurman ( November 13, 1813 &ndash December 12, 1895) was a Democratic Representative and Senator The Ohio legislature, which had recently again come under Republican control, chose Garfield to fill Thurman's seat. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation ^[4] However, at the Republican National Convention Garfield gained support for the party's Presidential nomination, and on the 36th ballot Garfield was nominated, with virtually all of Blaine's and John Sherman's delegates breaking ranks to vote for the dark horse nominee. The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. John Sherman nicknamed "The Ohio Icicle" ( May 10, 1823 &ndash October 22, 1900) was a U This article describes dark horse candidates For other uses see Dark Horse. As it happened, the U. S. Senate seat to which Garfield had been chosen ultimately went to Sherman, whose Presidential candidacy Garfield had gone to the convention to support.

In the general election, Garfield defeated the Democratic candidate Winfield Scott Hancock, another distinguished former Union Army general, by 214 electoral votes to 155. Winfield Scott Hancock ( February 14 1824 &ndash February 9 1886) was a career U (The popular vote had a plurality of 9,464 votes out of more than nine million cast; see U.S. presidential election, 1880. The United States presidential election of 1880 was largely seen as a referendum on the Republicans' relaxation of Reconstruction efforts in the southern states ) He became the only man ever to be elected to the Presidency straight from the House of Representatives and was, for a short period, a sitting Representative, a Senator-elect, and President-elect. Garfield took office as President on March 4, 1881. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Presidency 1881

Administration and Cabinet

Offical White House portrait of James Garfield

Between his election and his inauguration, Garfield was occupied with constructing a cabinet that would balance all Republican factions. The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death Chester Alan Arthur (October 5 1829 &ndash November 18 1886 was an American politician who served as the twenty-first President of the United States. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs James Gillespie Blaine ( January 31, 1830 &ndash January 27, 1893) was a U The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, concerned with finance and monetary matters, and until William Windom ( May 10, 1827 &ndash January 29, 1891) was an American Politician. The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington 's administration Robert Todd Lincoln ( August 1, 1843 &ndash July 26, 1926) was an American lawyer and politician and the first son of President The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement Isaac Wayne MacVeagh ( April 19, 1833 &ndash January 11, 1917) was an American politician and diplomat The United States Postmaster General is the executive head of the United States Postal Service. Thomas Lemuel James ( March 29, 1831 &ndash September 11, 1916) was a banker and journalist who served as Postmaster General The United States Secretary of the Navy ( SECNAV) is the Civilian head of the Department of the Navy. William Henry Hunt ( June 12, 1823 &ndash February 27, 1884) was the United States Secretary of the Navy under President James The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior. Samuel Jordan Kirkwood ( December 20, 1813 September 1, 1894) was an American politician best known as Iowa's Civil War governor he also Blaine was rewarded with the State Department. William Windom of Minnesota was named secretary of the Treasury. The Navy Department was headed by William H. Hunt of Louisiana; the War Department by Robert Todd Lincoln; and the Interior Department by Iowa's Samuel J. Kirkwood. Wayne MacVeagh of Pennsylvania was asked to be Attorney General, and New York was represented by Postmaster General Thomas Lemuel James. Thomas Lemuel James ( March 29, 1831 &ndash September 11, 1916) was a banker and journalist who served as Postmaster General This last appointment infuriated Garfield's Stalwart rival Roscoe Conkling, who demanded nothing less for his faction and his state than the Treasury Department. The " Stalwarts " were a faction of the United States Republican Party toward the end of the 19th century See also Roscoe Conkling Patterson, a US Senator from Missouri He was so insulted that he, in effect, declared war on the administration.

This unedifying squabble would consume the energies of the brief Garfield presidency. It overshadowed promising activities such as Blaine's efforts to build closer ties with Latin America, Postmaster General James's investigation of the "star route" postal frauds, and Windom's successful refinancing of the federal debt. Star routes is a term used in connection with the United States postal service and the contracting of mail delivery services

The feud with Conkling reached a climax when the President, at Blaine's instigation, nominated Conkling's enemy, Judge William H. Robertson, to be collector of the port of New York. Conkling raised the time-honored principle of senatorial courtesy in attempting to defeat the nomination but to no avail. Finally he and his junior colleague, Thomas C. Platt, resigned their Senate seats to seek vindication, but they found only further humiliation. Thomas Collier Platt ( July 15, 1833 &ndash March 6, 1910) -- a two-term member of the U Garfield's victory was complete. He had routed his foes, weakened the principle of senatorial courtesy, and revitalized the presidential office. ^[5]

President Garfield's only official social function made outside the White House was a visit to the Columbia Institution for the Deaf (later Gallaudet University) in May, 1881. Gallaudet University is a federally chartered quasi-governmental University for the education of the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing, located in Washington ^[6]

Supreme Court appointments

• Thomas Stanley Matthews – 1881

Assassination

Main article: James A. Garfield assassination

President Garfield and family

Garfield had little time to savor his triumph. Thomas Stanley Matthews ( July 21, 1824 &ndash March 22, 1889) generally known in adulthood as Stanley Matthews, was a Republican The James A Garfield assassination took place in Washington DC on July 2, 1881. He was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, disgruntled by failed efforts to secure a federal post, on July 2, 1881, at 9:30 a. Charles Julius Guiteau ( September 8, 1841 &ndash June 30, 1882) was an American Lawyer who Assassinated Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common m. , less than four months after taking office. The President had been walking through the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (a predecessor of the Pennsylvania Railroad) Washington, D.C., on his way to his alma mater, Williams College, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech, accompanied by Secretary of State James G. Blaine, Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln (son of Abraham Lincoln^[7]) and two of his sons, James and Harry. The Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad 's main line from Baltimore Maryland southwest to Washington DC. The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Railroad, founded in 1846 Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Williams College is a highly selective private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs James Gillespie Blaine ( January 31, 1830 &ndash January 27, 1893) was a U The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington 's administration Robert Todd Lincoln ( August 1, 1843 &ndash July 26, 1926) was an American lawyer and politician and the first son of President Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal For his father the 20th President of the United States, see James Abram Garfield. Harry Augustus "Hal" Garfield ( October 11, 1863 &ndash December 12, 1942) was an American lawyer and Academic The station was located on the southwest corner of present day Sixth Street Northwest and Constitution Avenue in Washington, D. C. , a site that is now occupied by the National Gallery of Art. This article is about the National Gallery of the United States for other National Galleries see National Gallery. As he was being arrested after the shooting, Guiteau excitedly said, "I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! I did it and I want to be arrested! Arthur is President now," which briefly led to unfounded suspicions that Arthur or his supporters had put Guiteau up to the crime. The " Stalwarts " were a faction of the United States Republican Party toward the end of the 19th century (The Stalwarts strongly opposed Garfield's Half-Breeds; like many Vice Presidents, Arthur was chosen for political advantage, to placate his faction, rather than for skills or loyalty to his running-mate. The " Half-Breeds " were a Political faction of the United States Republican Party that existed in the late 19th century ) Guiteau was upset because of the rejection of his repeated attempts to be appointed as the United States consul in Paris—a position for which he had absolutely no qualifications. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Garfield's assassination was instrumental to the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act on January 16, 1883. The United States Civil Service consists of all appointive positions in the executive judicial and legislative branches of the Government of the United States except positions in the Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

President Garfield with James G. Blaine after being shot by Charles Guiteau, as depicted in a period engraving from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper^[8][9]

One bullet grazed Garfield's arm; the second bullet lodged in his spine and could not be found, although scientists today think that the bullet was near his lung. James Gillespie Blaine ( January 31, 1830 &ndash January 27, 1893) was a U Charles Julius Guiteau ( September 8, 1841 &ndash June 30, 1882) was an American Lawyer who Assassinated Frank Leslie (1821-1880 was an English-born American engraver, Illustrator, and publisher of family periodicals Alexander Graham Bell devised a metal detector specifically for the purpose of finding the bullet, but the metal bed frame Garfield was lying on made the instrument malfunction. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Metal detectors use Electromagnetic induction to detect Metal. Because metal bed frames were relatively rare, the cause of the instrument's deviation was unknown at the time. Garfield became increasingly ill over a period of several weeks due to infection, which caused his heart to weaken. He remained bedridden in the White House with fevers and extreme pains. In early September, the ailing President was moved to the Jersey Shore in the vain hope that the fresh air and quiet there might aid his recovery. The Jersey Shore is a term used in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States to refer to the both Atlantic coast of New Jersey and the adjacent resort In a matter of hours, local residents put down a special rail spur for Garfield's train; some of the ties are now part of the Garfield Tea House. The Garfield Tea House, in Elberon New Jersey, is the only remaining structure directly related to President James A The beach cottage Garfield was taken to has been demolished. He died of a massive heart attack or a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, following blood poisoning and bronchial pneumonia, at 10:35 p. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply An aneurysm (or aneurism) is a localized blood-filled dilation (balloon-like bulge of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state (called a Systemic inflammatory response syndrome or SIRS caused Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the Lung. Frequently it is described as lung Parenchyma / alveolar inflammation and abnormal m. on Monday, September 19, 1881, in the Elberon section of Long Branch, New Jersey. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Elberon is an unincorporated area that is part of Long Branch in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Long Branch is a City in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The wounded president died exactly two months before his 50th birthday. During the eighty days between his shooting and death, his only official act was to sign an extradition paper. Extradition is the official process by which one nation or state requests and obtains from another nation or state the surrender of a suspected or convicted criminal

Doctors discuss Garfield's wounds.

Most historians and medical experts now believe that Garfield probably would have survived his wound had the doctors attending him been more capable. ^[10] Several inserted their unsterilized fingers into the wound to probe for the bullet, and one doctor punctured Garfield's liver in doing so. The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals This alone would not have brought about death as the liver is one of the few organs in the human body that can regenerate itself. However, this physician probably introduced Streptococcus bacteria into the President's body and that caused blood poisoning for which at that time there were no antibiotics. Streptococcus is a Genus of spherical Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the phylum Firmicutes and the Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state (called a Systemic inflammatory response syndrome or SIRS caused

President Garfield's casket lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda. Lying in state is a term used to describe the tradition in which a Coffin is placed on view to allow the public at large to pay their respects to the deceased The rotunda is the central rotunda of the United States Capitol, below the Capitol dome.

Guiteau was found guilty of assassinating Garfield, despite his lawyers raising an insanity defense. In Criminal trials the insanity defenses are possible defenses by Excuse, an Affirmative defense by which Defendants argue that He insisted that incompetent medical care had really killed the President. Although historians generally agree that poor medical care was a contributing factor, it was not a legal defense. Guiteau was sentenced to death, and was executed by hanging on June 30, 1882, in Washington, D. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common C.

President Garfield's Death Site, Long Branch, New Jersey.

Garfield was buried, with great solemnity, in a mausoleum in Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. A mausoleum ( plural: mausolea is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons Lake View Cemetery is located on the East side of the City of Cleveland Ohio, along the East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights borders Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state The monument is decorated with five terra cotta bas relief panels by sculptor Caspar Buberl, depicting various stages in Garfield's life. Terra cotta ( Italian: "baked earth" is a Ceramic. Its uses include vessels water & waste water pipes and surface embellishment in Building construction A bas-relief (baʁəljɛf in French; French for "low relief" derived from the Italian basso rilievo) or low relief is a Sculpture Caspar Buberl (1834 &ndash August 22, 1899) was an American sculptor. In 1887, the James A. Garfield Monument was dedicated in Washington, D. The James A Garfield Monument stands on the grounds of the United States Capitol in the circle at First Street S C.

At the time of his death, Garfield was survived by his mother. He is one of only three presidents to have predeceased their mothers. The others were James K. Polk and John F. Kennedy. James Knox Polk ( November 2 1795&ndashJune 15 1849 was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from March 4 1845 to March 4 1849 John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of

Trivia

• Garfield and fellow Ohioan President Rutherford B. Hayes both served on the first board of trustees of Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) following the school's move from Hudson, Ohio to Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland Ohio, United States, with some residence halls on the south end of campus new shopping area hudson ohjpg|thumb|right|180px|The "First and Main" shopping district
• Garfield was a minister and an elder for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), making him the first—and to date, only—member of the clergy to serve as President. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America ^[11] He is also claimed as a member of the Church of Christ, as the different branches did not split until the 20th century. Garfield preached his first sermon in Poestenkill, New York. ^[12] When Garfield relinquished his Eldership, it is said that he stated, "I resign the highest office in the land to become President of the United States. "
  

  Garfield Monument at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. Lake View Cemetery is located on the East side of the City of Cleveland Ohio, along the East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights borders Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state
• Garfield was a member of the Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. Delta Upsilon ( ΔY) is the 6th oldest international all-male college Greek-letter social fraternity and is the first non-secret fraternity ever ^[13]
• Garfield is the only person in US history to be a Representative, Senator-elect, and President-elect at the same time. A President-elect is a Political candidate who has been elected President but who has not yet taken office as it is still occupied by the Outgoing To date, he is the only Representative to be directly elected President of the United States.
• In 1876, Garfield discovered a novel proof of the Pythagorean Theorem using a trapezoid while serving as a member of the House of Representatives. In Mathematics, the Pythagorean theorem ( American English) or Pythagoras' theorem ( British English) is a relation in Euclidean geometry A trapezoid (in North America or a trapezium (in Britain and elsewhere is a Quadrilateral (a closed plane shape with four linear sides that has at least one ^[14]
• Garfield was the first ambidextrous president. Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both right and left Appendages (such as the Hands) It was said that one could ask him a question in English and he could simultaneously write the answer in Latin with one hand, and Ancient Greek with the other. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c He was also known to be a septalinguist. ^[15]
• In the famous drawing of Guiteau shooting Garfield, it is believed that the color of their suits at the time was reversed.
• The assassination is also mentioned in the Johnny Cash tune, "Mister Garfield (Has Been Shot Down)" according to the album sleeve written by J. Johnny Cash (born J R Cash; February 26 1932 - September 12 2003 was a Grammy Award -winning American country Singer-songwriter. Elliot, released in 1965 by Columbia Records, and re-recorded for the 1972 album America - A 200 Year Salute in Story And Song, as well as in "Charles Guiteau" by Kelly Harrell & the Virginia String Band as included in the Anthology of American Folk Music. Charles Guiteau (LAWS E11 Roud 444 is a traditional song about the assassin of US President James A Kelly Harrell was a Country music singer in the 1920s He recorded more than a dozen songs for OKeh and Victor Records and wrote songs which were recorded The Anthology of American Folk Music is a 1952 six-album compilation of eighty-four American folk recordings from 1927 to 1932
• In the 1992 film Unforgiven, set in 1881, the character English Bob mocks his (American) fellow travelers for the murder of President Garfield, comparing the republican system of government unfavorably with the monarchical. This article is about the 1992 film For other uses see Unforgiven (disambiguation. "If you were to try to assassinate a king, sir, the, how shall I say it, the majesty of royalty would cause you to miss. But, a President, I mean, why not shoot a President?"
• Garfield was assassinated only months after Czar Alexander II of Russia was assassinated. Alexander (Aleksandr II Nikolaevich (Александр II Николаевич ( Moscow, 29 April 1818 – 13 March 1881 in St
• Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins includes the story of Charles J. Guiteau and his assassination of Garfield and features a song, "The Ballad of Guiteau. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven Assassins is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, based on an idea by Charles Gilbert Jr Charles Julius Guiteau ( September 8, 1841 &ndash June 30, 1882) was an American Lawyer who Assassinated "
  

  Garfield Monument in Washington, D.C.
• Part of Charles Guiteau's preserved brain is on display at the Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Mütter Museum is a medical Museum located in the Center City area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[16] Guiteau's bones and more of his brain, along with Garfield's backbone and a couple ribs, are kept at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D. The National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM originally known as the Army Medical Museum (AMM is a museum in Washington D C. on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Walter Reed National Army Medical Center (WRAMC is the United States Army's medical center on the east coast of the United States. ^[17]
• Garfield was a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger John Billington through his son Francis, another Mayflower passenger. The Mayflower was the famous Ship that transported the English Separatists better known as the Pilgrims, from Southampton, England John Billington (c 1580 &ndash September 30, 1630) was the first Englishman to be convicted of Murder in what would become the United ^[18] John Billington was convicted of murder at Plymouth Mass. 1630. ^[19]
• Garfield juggled Indian clubs to build his muscles. Indian clubs belong to a category of Exercise (and Juggling) equipment that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century in ^[20]
• James Garfield was featured on series 1882 $5 National Currency notes, and the series 1886 $20 Gold Certificate. ^[21] Both of these currency notes are considered to be of moderate rarity, and are quite valuable to collectors.
• Garfield has a street in Brooklyn a suburb in Wellington, New Zealand named after him - Garfield Street. Brooklyn, a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, has a friendly and vibrant village atmosphere which has attracted many young families whilst Wellington (ˈwælɪŋtən is the Capital of New Zealand, the country's second largest urban area, the New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
• Garfield was related to Owen Tudor, and both were descendents of Rhys ap Tewdwr. Owain ap Mredydd (or Owen ap Meredith ap Tewdwr or Owen Tudur or Owen Tudor) (c Rhys ap Tewdwr (before 1065 &ndash 1093 was a Prince of Deheubarth in West Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty a branch descended from Rhodri ^[22]
• The Spaghetti Western The Price of Power (1969) features Van Johnson as Garfield, and his assassination figures prominently in the film's plot; however, the setting of the assassination is relocated to Dallas, and the killing itself is clearly modeled after the Kennedy Assassination of 1963. Spaghetti Western, also known in some countries in mainland Europe as the Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western The Price of Power ( Il prezzo del potere or La muerte de un presidente, 1969) is an Spanish - Italian Spaghetti Western Charles "Van" Johnson (born August 25, 1916) is an American film and television actor and dancer The assassination of John F Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, took place on Friday November 22 1963 in Dallas Texas
• The US has had three presidents in the same year two times. The first such year was 1841. Martin Van Buren ended his single term, William Henry Harrison was inaugurated and died a month later, then Vice President John Tyler stepped into the vacant office. The second occurrence was in 1881. Rutherford B. Hayes relinquished the office to James A. Garfield. Upon Garfield's death, Chester A. Arthur became president.

See also

• List of assassinated American politicians
• List of United States Presidents who died in office

Further reading

• Ackerman, Kenneth D. This is a list of assassinated American politicians. Individuals listed were either elected or appointed to office or were candidates for elected office This is a list of US presidents who died during their term as president by date and by cause of death Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of James A. Garfield, Avalon Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0-7867-1396-8 (paperback) and ISBN 0-7867-1151-5 (cloth).

• Freemon, Frank R. , 2001: Gangrene and glory: medical care during the American Civil War; Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252070100

• King, Lester Snow: 1991 Transformations in American Medicine : from Benjamin Rush to William Osler / Lester S. King. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, c1991. ISBN 0801840570

• Peskin, Allan Garfield: A Biography, The Kent State University Press, 1978. ISBN 0-8733-8210-2.

• Vowell, Sarah "Assassination Vacation", Simon & Schuster, 2005 ISBN 0-7432-6004-X

References

External links

• James A. Garfield at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-12
• Extensive essay on James Garfield and shorter essays on each member of his cabinet and First Lady from the Miller Center of Public Affairs
• Garfield, Harding, and Arthur
• Official whitehouse.gov biography
• Inaugural Address
• Article about assassination and "treatment" by doctors
• Encarta
• An image of Garfield's Civil War Pension File from the National Archives
• Raw Deal
• MathWorld: Pythagorean Theorem
• Biography from John T. Brown's Churches of Christ (1904)
• James A Garfield National Historic Site
• James A. Garfield Birthplace
• Garfield Monument