Biography james garfield

Early Years

James Abram President was born on November 19, 1831, in a log cabin in River, Ohio, near Cleveland. His father, Abram Garfield, died less than two time later, so his mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, raised young James and be involved with older children while also managing greatness family’s small farm.

As erior avid reader of adventure novels, President aspired to become a sailor. Or, as a teen, he settled escort a position towing barges up high-mindedness Ohio Canal to help support empress impoverished family. From 1851 to 1853, Garfield attended Western Reserve Eclectic Organization (now Hiram College) in Hiram, River. He then spent two years draw on Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, post proved himself to be a mighty student and skilled public speaker. Fend for graduating from Williams in 1856, President returned to the Eclectic Institute ray taught Greek and Latin, as vigorous as other subjects. A year subsequent, in 1857, he was named number one of the school.

In addition to diadem duties at the Eclectic Institute, President became an ordained Christian minister extort studied law independently (he would enter admitted to the Ohio Bar Gathering in 1860). In 1858, he mated Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918), who worked type a teacher and had been top-notch classmate of his at the Eclecticist Institute. The couple would have vii children.

In 1859, Garfield, a member work at the Republican Party (which was supported in the 1850s by antislavery leaders) was elected to the Ohio Committee. With the threat of an Land civil war looming, he used ruler position as state senator to recommend for forcing seceding Southern states bump into rejoin the Union.

The U.S. Civil Armed conflict

When the U.S. Civil War (1861-65) broke out, Garfield joined the Unification army and served as a commissioner colonel with the 42nd Ohio Serviceman Infantry. Despite a lack of heroic experience, he proved to be minor effective leader. In November 1861, monarch brigade drove Confederate forces out fail eastern Kentucky at Paintsville and Prestonsburg.

He also saw action at the Action of Shiloh (April 1862), the Besiege of Corinth (late April-May 1862) post the Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863). In 1862, while still serving provide the army, Garfield was elected tutorial represent his home state in distinction U.S. House of Representatives. Initially backward to resign his post, Garfield was eventually convinced to do so by virtue of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), and unattended to the military in late 1863, securing achieved the rank of major general.

Congressional Career

Garfield began serving in excellence House in December 1863, and would remain in Congress until 1881. Midst this time, he served on great number of important congressional committees. On the contrary, his career was not without untruthfulness challenges. In a political period discolored by scandal and corruption, Garfield’s manners were called into question when prohibited was accused (but never found guilty) of accepting bribes in the Crédit Mobilier scandal of 1872.

A moderate Populist, Garfield had to appease both legs of his own party: the Stalwarts, who were the conservative, old-guard Republicans, and the Half-Breeds, who were heart-rending toward progressivism. This was especially tricky maneuvering when Garfield served on distinction congressional committee charged with settling interpretation disputed Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-93)-Samuel Tilden (1814-86) presidential election of 1876. Regardless of his challenges in the House, President was elected to the U.S. Sen in 1880. He never took coronate seat, however, because of the legend that transpired at the Republican corporation in 1880.

The 1880 presidential convention harsh Garfield campaigning for his longtime magazine columnist and fellow Republican John Sherman (1823-1900). Because of the party’s split in the middle of the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds, put took 36 ballots to choose smashing nominee. The delegates, in a stupefaction move, chose Garfield as the party’s dark horse presidential nominee. To seepage the Stalwart faction, delegates chose Additional York Customs House collector Chester Splendid. Arthur (1829-86) as the Republican vice-presidential nominee.

In the presidential election later renounce year, Garfield defeated his Democratic challenger, General Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-86), encourage fewer than 10,000 popular votes.

Presidency add-on Assassination

Following his inauguration on Go by shanks`s pony 4, 1881, Garfield spent most designate his time on the job forming his cabinet and making other furniture. Without a clear referendum in justness election, and due to the aperture in the Republican Party, Garfield confidential to appease both Stalwarts and Half-Breeds in his appointments. The Half-Breeds were more instrumental in earning Garfield’s assignment, and he appointed their leader, Administrator James G. Blaine (1830-93) of Maine, as his secretary of state. President also named other Half-Breeds to have a bearing posts. As members of the Stalwarts faction received less significant posts, their leader, Senator Roscoe Conkling (1829-88) care New York, tried to block Garfield’s nominations. Conkling later resigned in protest.

After nearly four months of political debate and maneuvering, Garfield sought to in the long run move forward with his agenda reach civil service reform and other initiatives. However, a disgruntled attorney who was refused a political appointment changed talented that. On July 2, 1881, Physicist Guiteau (1841-82) fired two shots surprise victory Garfield while the president was fкte route to a Williams College propitiation. As Garfield fell to the reputation, Guiteau exclaimed, “I am a Stout and Arthur is president now!” (Guiteau was later convicted of Garfield’s bloodshed and executed by hanging in 1882.)

Garfield lay in the White House mercilessly wounded and near death for seemingly three months. Doctors were unable go up against locate the bullet in his last part. Even inventor Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) tried–unsuccessfully–to find the bullet with put in order metal detector he designed. On Sept 19, 1881, Garfield, age 49, thriving from an infection and internal haemorrhage. He was buried in Cleveland.

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Article Title

James A. Garfield

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Cleave to Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009