Chester A. Arthur

Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as 21st President of the United States. Arthur was a member of the Republican Party and worked as a lawyer before becoming the 20th Vice President in the administration of James Garfield. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, on July 2, 1881. Garfield died on September 19, and Arthur became President, serving until 1885.

Biography

Arthur was born in the town of Fairfield in Franklin County, Vermont on October 5, 1829 (although he told people that he was born in 1830). Political rivals long circulated the rumor that he had been born in Canada rather than in Vermont, hoping to create doubts as to his eligibility for American public office. The truth, however, was simply that Arthur was born near the Canadian border. His parents were William Arthur and Malvina Stone.

Related Topics:
Fairfield - Franklin County - Vermont - Canada

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He attended the public schools and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1848. He became principal of an academy in North Pownal, Vermont in 1851. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1854, and commenced practice in New York City, supporting equal rights for blacks who objected to the segregation of city transportation. He also took an active part in the reorganization of the New York State militia.

Related Topics:
Union College - Schenectady, New York - 1848 - North Pownal, Vermont - 1851 - Bar - 1854 - New York City - Blacks - Segregation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Arthur married Hellen "Nell" Lewis Hern in October 1859. In 1860, the couple had a son, William Lewis, who was named after Mrs. Arthur's father. William Lewis died at age two of a brain disorder. Another boy, Chester Alan, was born in 1864, and a girl, named Ellen Herndon for her mother, in 1871. Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur died of pneumonia on January 12, 1880, at the age of 42, 10 months before Arthur was elected Vice President. While in the White House, Arthur would not give anyone the place that would have been his wife's. He asked his sister Mary (Mrs. John E. McElroy) to assume certain social duties and help care for his daughter.

Related Topics:
1859 - 1860 - 1864 - 1871 - Pneumonia - January 12 - 1880

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the Civil War, Arthur served as acting quartermaster general of the state in 1861 and was widely praised for his service. He was later commissioned as inspector general, and appointed quartermaster general with the rank of Brigadier General, and served until 1862. He resumed the practice of law in New York City. With the help of Arthur's patron and political boss Roscoe Conkling, Arthur was appointed by President Ulysses Grant as Collector of the port of New York from 1871 to 1878.

Related Topics:
Civil War - Quartermaster - 1861 - Inspector general - Brigadier General - 1862 - Roscoe Conkling - Ulysses Grant - Port of New York - 1871 - 1878

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This was an extremely lucrative and powerful position at the time, and several of Arthur's predecessors had run afoul of the law while serving as Collector. Honorable in his personal life and his public career, Arthur nevertheless was a firm believer in the spoils system even as it was coming under vehement attack from reformers. He insisted upon honest administration of the Customs House, but staffed it with more employees than it really needed, retaining some for their loyalty as party workers rather than for their skill as public servants.

Related Topics:
Spoils system - Customs House

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1878 President Rutherford B. Hayes, attempting to reform the Customs House, ousted Arthur, who resumed the practice of law in New York City. Conkling and his followers tried to win redress by fighting for the renomination of Grant at the 1880 Republican Convention. Failing in that, they reluctantly accepted the nomination of Arthur for the Vice Presidency.

Related Topics:
1878 - Rutherford B. Hayes - 1880 Republican Convention

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Arthur was elected Vice President of the United States on the Republican ticket with President James Garfield for the term beginning March 4, 1881. Upon the assassination of President Garfield, Arthur became President of the United States on September 19, 1881 and was sworn in September 20th

Related Topics:
Vice President of the United States - Republican - James Garfield - March 4 - 1881 - Assassination - September 19 - September 20th

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~