James A. Garfield

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Lucretia Garfield - Brady-Handy

General James Garfield - Brady-Handy

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James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his death by assassination later that year. Garfield had served nine terms in the United States House of Representatives and had been a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Early Life and Education

Garfield was born in a log cabin in Moreland Hills, Ohio. He was the youngest of five children born to Abram and Eliza Garfield. His father died when he was an infant, and he was raised in poverty by his mother. Garfield worked at various jobs to support his family and attended Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) and later Williams College in Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1856.

Political Career

Garfield began his political career as a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1859 to 1861. During the Civil War, he served as a major general in the Union Army, fighting in several key battles, including the Battle of Shiloh and the Chattanooga Campaign. After the war, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served from 1863 to 1880. Garfield was a strong advocate for civil rights and worked to ensure the rights of African Americans during the Reconstruction era.

Presidency

Garfield was elected as the 20th President of the United States in 1880. His presidency was marked by his efforts to reform the civil service and reduce corruption in government. He appointed several reform-minded individuals to key positions and worked to implement a merit-based system for federal employment.

Assassination

On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C.. He succumbed to his injuries on September 19, 1881, after a prolonged struggle with infection and poor medical care. Garfield's assassination led to increased efforts to reform the civil service, culminating in the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883.

Legacy

Garfield is remembered for his advocacy of civil rights and his efforts to reform the federal government. His assassination highlighted the need for civil service reform and led to significant changes in the way federal employees were hired and promoted.

Related Pages

• United States House of Representatives
• Union Army
• American Civil War
• Reconstruction era
• Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
• Charles J. Guiteau
• Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station

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