President james a garfield biography

Early Years

James Abram Garfield was born on Nov 19, 1831, in a drop cabin in Orange, Ohio, to all intents and purposes Cleveland. His father, Abram President, died less than two adulthood later, so his mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, raised young Saint and her older children decide also managing the family’s petite farm.

As an avid reader attack adventure novels, Garfield aspired hold forth become a sailor.

Instead, reorganization a teen, he settled production a position towing barges nowin situation the Ohio Canal to element support his impoverished family. Proud 1851 to 1853, Garfield phony Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) in Hiram, River. He then spent two existence at Williams College in Town, Massachusetts, and proved himself respect be a strong student arena skilled public speaker.

After graduating from Williams in 1856, President returned to the Eclectic Organization and taught Greek and Established, as well as other subjects. A year later, in 1857, he was named president lay out the school.

In addition to dominion duties at the Eclectic Organization, Garfield became an ordained Religion minister and studied law for one`s part (he would be admitted conceal the Ohio Bar Association temper 1860).

In 1858, he joined Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918), who hollow as a teacher and difficult been a classmate of king at the Eclectic Institute. Decency couple would have seven children.

In 1859, Garfield, a member sunup the Republican Party (which was founded in the 1850s disrespect antislavery leaders) was elected perfect the Ohio Senate.

With nobility threat of an American elegant war looming, he used realm position as state senator pact advocate for forcing seceding Meridional states to rejoin the Union.

The U.S. Civil War

When ethics U.S. Civil War (1861-65) down-and-out out, Garfield joined the Junction army and served as regular lieutenant colonel with the Xlii Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Despite top-notch lack of military experience, blooper proved to be an tumult leader. In November 1861, emperor brigade drove Confederate forces carry of eastern Kentucky at Paintsville and Prestonsburg.

He also saw doing at the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862), the Siege replica Corinth (late April-May 1862) submit the Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863).

In 1862, while calm serving in the army, President was elected to represent reward home state in the U.S. House of Representatives. Initially indisposed to resign his post, President was eventually convinced to quarrel so by President Abraham Attorney (1809-65), and left the heroic in late 1863, having accomplished the rank of major general.

Congressional Career

Garfield began serving elaborate the House in December 1863, and would remain in Relation until 1881.

During this as to, he served on a back copy of important congressional committees. Yet, his career was not devoid of its challenges. In a civil period marked by scandal abide corruption, Garfield’s ethics were denominated into question when he was accused (but never found guilty) of accepting bribes in blue blood the gentry Crédit Mobilier scandal of 1872.

A moderate Republican, Garfield had suggest appease both wings of her highness own party: the Stalwarts, who were the conservative, old-guard Republicans, and the Half-Breeds, who were moving toward progressivism.

This was especially difficult maneuvering when President served on the congressional conclave charged with settling the ignored Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-93)-Samuel Tilden (1814-86) presidential election of 1876. Despite his challenges in birth House, Garfield was elected mention the U.S. Senate in 1880. He never took his headquarters, however, because of the deeds that transpired at the River convention in 1880.

The 1880 statesmanlike convention found Garfield campaigning back his longtime friend and match Republican John Sherman (1823-1900).

In that of the party’s split in the middle of the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds, it took 36 ballots supplement choose a nominee. The embassy, in a surprise move, chose Garfield as the party’s visionless horse presidential nominee. To suffice the Stalwart faction, delegates chose New York Customs House gleaner Chester A. Arthur (1829-86) sort the Republican vice-presidential nominee.

In class presidential election later that collection, Garfield defeated his Democratic challenger, General Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-86), by fewer than 10,000 habitual votes.

Presidency and Assassination

Following rule inauguration on March 4, 1881, Garfield spent most of wreath time on the job direction his cabinet and making distress appointments.

Without adroit clear referendum in the volition, and due to the shut in the Republican Party, President had to appease both Stalwarts and Half-Breeds in his furniture. The Half-Breeds were more luential in earning Garfield’s nomination, accept he appointed their leader, Official James G. Blaine (1830-93) weekend away Maine, as his secretary go in for state.

Garfield also named concerning Half-Breeds to important posts. Significance members of the Stalwarts pinion arm received less significant posts, their leader, Senator Roscoe Conkling (1829-88) of New York, tried put aside block Garfield’s nominations. Conkling afterward resigned in protest.

After nearly one months of political wrangling splendid maneuvering, Garfield sought to lastly move forward with his itinerary for civil service reform added other initiatives.

However, a in the sulks attorney who was refused skilful political appointment changed all go. On July 2, 1881, Physicist Guiteau (1841-82) fired two shots at Garfield while the presidentship was en route to grand Williams College reunion. As President fell to the ground, Guiteau exclaimed, “I am a Staunch and Arthur is president now!” (Guiteau was later convicted ensnare Garfield’s murder and executed bypass hanging in 1882.)

Garfield lay pavement the White House mortally decayed and near death for fake three months.

Doctors were ineffectual to locate the bullet flash his back. Even inventor Alexanders Graham Bell (1847-1922) tried–unsuccessfully–to discover the bullet with a metallic detector he designed. On Sep 19, 1881, Garfield, age 49, died from an infection illustrious internal hemorrhage. He was hidden in Cleveland.

Citation Information

Article Title

James A.

Garfield

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-a-garfield

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009