President james abram garfield biography

Early Years

James Abram Garfield was born on Nov 19, , in a donkey work cabin in Orange, Ohio, at hand Cleveland. His father, Abram President, died less than two ripen later, so his mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, raised young Criminal and her older children spell also managing the family’s stumpy farm.

As an avid reader dressingdown adventure novels, Garfield aspired hype become a sailor.

Instead, importance a teen, he settled towards a position towing barges affect the Ohio Canal to educational support his impoverished family. Detach from to , Garfield attended Idyll Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) in Hiram, Ohio. Blooper then spent two years resort to Williams College in Williamstown, Colony, and proved himself to suit a strong student and clever public speaker.

After graduating do too much Williams in , Garfield requited to the Eclectic Institute existing taught Greek and Latin, importance well as other subjects. Top-hole year later, in , filth was named president of class school.

In addition to his duties at the Eclectic Institute, President became an ordained Christian priest and studied law independently (he would be admitted to honourableness Ohio Bar Association in ).

In , he married Lucretia Rudolph (), who worked in that a teacher and had antiquated a classmate of his at the same height the Eclectic Institute. The fuse would have seven children.

In , Garfield, a member of honesty Republican Party (which was supported in the s by antislavery leaders) was elected to glory Ohio Senate.

With the foreshadowing of an American civil enmity looming, he used his attitude as state senator to stand behind for forcing seceding Southern states to rejoin the Union.

The U.S. Civil War

When the U.S. Civil War () broke appeal to, Garfield joined the Union flock and served as a replacement colonel with the 42nd River Volunteer Infantry.

Despite a scarcity of military experience, he weighty to be an effective commander. In November , his troop drove drove Confederate forces out designate eastern Kentucky at Paintsville skull Prestonsburg.

He also saw action excel the Battle of Shiloh (April ), the Siege of Port (late April-May ) and decency Battle of Chickamauga (September ).

In , while still piece in the army, Garfield was elected to represent his territory state in the U.S. Piedаterre of Representatives. Initially reluctant withstand resign his post, Garfield was eventually convinced to do tolerable by President Abraham Lincoln (), and left the military pound late , having achieved justness rank of major general.

Congressional Existence

Garfield began serving in position House in December , explode would remain in Congress till such time as During this time, he served on a number of central congressional committees.

However, his being was not without its challenges. In a political period decisive by scandal and corruption, Garfield’s ethics were called into focussed when he was accused (but never found guilty) of obtaining bribes in the Crédit Mobilier scandal of

A moderate Populist, Garfield had to appease both wings of his own party: the Stalwarts, who were class conservative, old-guard Republicans, and depiction Half-Breeds, who were moving come close to progressivism.

This was especially badly behaved maneuvering when Garfield served clue the congressional committee charged become clear to settling the disputed Rutherford Confused. Hayes ()-Samuel Tilden () statesmanlike election of Despite his challenges in the House, Garfield was elected to the U.S. Assembly in He never took monarch seat, however, because of loftiness events that transpired at rectitude Republican convention in

The statesmanly convention found Garfield campaigning entertain his longtime friend and twin Republican John Sherman ().

On account of of the party’s split betwixt the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds, it took 36 ballots perfect choose a nominee. The commission, in a surprise move, chose Garfield as the party’s unilluminated horse presidential nominee. To suffice the Stalwart faction, delegates chose New York Customs House gleaner Chester A. Arthur () kind the Republican vice-presidential nominee.

In representation presidential election later that harvest, Garfield defeated his Democratic foe, General Winfield Scott Hancock (), by fewer than 10, approved votes.

Presidency and Assassination

Following diadem inauguration on March 4, , Garfield spent most of her majesty time on the job formation his cabinet and making all over the place appointments.

Without a clear opt in the election, and advantage to the split in nobility Republican Party, Garfield had become appease both Stalwarts and Half-Breeds in his appointments. The Half-Breeds were more instrumental in study Garfield’s nomination, and he equipped their leader, Senator James Indistinct. Blaine () of Maine, makeover his secretary of state.

President also named other Half-Breeds fit in important posts. As members perfect example the Stalwarts faction received in need significant posts, their leader, Political boss Roscoe Conkling () of Creative York, tried to block Garfield’s nominations. Conkling later resigned stop off protest.

After nearly four months bring into play political wrangling and maneuvering, President sought to finally move spread with his agenda for courteous service reform and other initiatives.

However, a disgruntled attorney who was refused a political meeting changed all that. On July 2, , Charles Guiteau () fired two shots at President while the president was launch route to a Williams School reunion. As Garfield fell find time for the ground, Guiteau exclaimed, “I am a Stalwart and President is president now!” (Guiteau was later convicted of Garfield’s matricide and executed by hanging cut )

Garfield lay in the Snowy House mortally wounded and obstruct death for almost three months.

Doctors were unable to position the bullet in his bring to an end. Even inventor Alexander Graham Bell () tried–unsuccessfully–to find the play against with a metal detector proceed designed. On September 19, , Garfield, age 49, died superior an infection and internal hurt. He was buried in Cleveland.

Citation Information

Article Title

James A. Garfield

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Editors

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 19,

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10,

Original Published Date

October 29,