James A. Garfield

James A. Garfield
Brady-Handy photograph of Garfield, taken between 1870 and 1880
20th President of the United States
In office March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
Vice President	Chester A. Arthur
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 – November 8, 1880
Preceded by	Albert G. Riddle
Succeeded by	Ezra B. Taylor
Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations
In office March 4, 1871 – March 4, 1875
Preceded by	Henry L. Dawes
Succeeded by	Samuel J. Randall
Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services
In office March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1871
Preceded by	Theodore M. Pomeroy
Succeeded by	Samuel Hooper
Chairman of the House Committee on Military Affairs
In office March 4, 1867 – March 4, 1869
Preceded by	Robert C. Schenck
Succeeded by	John A. Logan
Personal details
Born	James Abram Garfield (1831-11-19)November 19, 1831 Moreland Hills, Ohio, U.S.
Died	September 19, 1881(1881-09-19) (aged 49) Elberon, New Jersey, U.S.
Cause of death	Assassination
Resting place	James A. Garfield Memorial, Cleveland, Ohio
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lucretia Rudolph (m. 1858)
Children	7, including Eliza Arabella ("Trot"), Harry Augustus ("Hal"), James Rudolph, and Abram
Education	Hiram College Williams College
Profession	Lawyer Teacher Lay preacher
Religion	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1863
Rank	Major general
Commands	42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry 20th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Middle Creek Battle of Shiloh Siege of Corinth Battle of Chickamauga

American Civil War

James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his assassination later that year. Garfield had served nine terms in the House of Representatives, and had been elected to the Senate before his candidacy for the White House, though he declined the Senate seat once he was elected President. He is the only sitting House member to be elected president.

Garfield was raised in humble circumstances on an Ohio farm by his widowed mother. He worked at various jobs, including on a canal boat, in his youth. Beginning at age 17, he attended several Ohio schools, then studied at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1856. A year later, Garfield entered politics as a Republican. He married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858, and served as a member of the Ohio State Senate (1859–1861). Garfield opposed Confederate secession, served as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and fought in the battles of Middle Creek, Shiloh, and Chickamauga. He was first elected to Congress in 1862 to represent Ohio's 19th District. Throughout Garfield's extended congressional service after the Civil War, he firmly supported the gold standard and gained a reputation as a skilled orator. Garfield initially agreed with Radical Republican views regarding Reconstruction, but later favored a moderate approach for civil rights enforcement for freedmen.