James A. Garfield

20th President James A. Garfield, 188120th President James A. Garfield, 188120th President James A. Garfield, 188120th President James A. Garfield, 188120th President James A. Garfield, 188120th President James A. Garfield, 1881

20th President James A. Garfield, 1881

20th President of the United States
(March 4, 1881 to September 19, 1881)

Full Name: James Abram Garfield
Nickname: None listed.

Born: November 19, 1831, in Orange, Ohio
Died: September 19, 1881, in Elberon, New Jersey

Father: Abram Garfield (1799-1833)
Mother: Eliza Ballou Garfield (1801-1888)
Married: Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918), on November 11, 1858
Children: Eliza A. Garfield (1860-63); Harry A. Garfield (1863-1942); James R. Garfield (1865-1950); Mary Garfield (1867-1947); Irvin M. Garfield (1870-1951); Abram Garfield (1872-1958); Edward Garfield (1874-76)

Religion: Disciples of Christ
Education: Attended Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College); Graduated from Williams College (1856)
Occupation: Teacher, public official
Political Party: Republican
Other Government Positions:

  • Member of Ohio State Senate, 1859-61
  • Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1863-80
  • Elected to United States Senate, 1880

Presidential Salary: $50,000/year

Presidential Election Results:

YearCandidatePopular VotesElectoral Votes
1880James A. Garfield4,453,295214
(map)Winfield S. Hancock4,414,082155

Vice President: Chester A. Arthur (1881)

Cabinet:

Secretary of State
James G. Blaine (1881)
Secretary of the Treasury
William Windom (1881)
Secretary of War
Robert Todd Lincoln (1881)
Attorney General
I. Wayne McVeagh (1881)
Postmaster General
Thomas L. James (1881)
Secretary of the Navy
William H. Hunt (1881)
Secretary of the Interior
Samuel J. Kirkwood (1881)

Supreme Court Justices:
Stanley Matthews (1881-1889)

Notable Events:
Internet Biographies:
James A. Garfield -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
Compiled by the White House.
James Garfield -- from The American President
From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
James A. Garfield -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts about Garfield and his presidency.
Videos:
Historical Documents:
Inaugural Address (1881)
James Garfield Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress

 

Other Internet Resources:
The Best Biographies of James A. Garfield
In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
Health and Medical History of James Garfield
Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
James A. Garfield Birth Site Park
The site includes a replica 1830's cabin and the site of Garfield's birth.
James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Lawnfield, the Mentor, Ohio home of Garfield also houses his presidential library. Tourist information provided by the National Park Service.
Points of Interest:
Additional Facts:
  • Garfield was the first left-handed president of the United States.
  • James Garfield could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other, at the same time.
  • The last of seven presidents born in a log cabin, Garfield weighed 10 pounds at birth.
  • He was the first president to campaign in two languages -- English and German.
  • On election day, November 2, 1880, he was at the same time a member of the House, Senator-elect and President-elect.
  • His mother was the first president's mother to attend her son's inauguration.
  • At the age of twenty-six, Garfield became president of Hiram College. At the time the school only had five faculty members.
  • After Garfield's shooting, repeated probing for the bullet with non-sterile instruments resulted in blood poisoning which eventually killed him.
Quotes:

“Right reason is stronger than force.”

“I have had many troubles in my life, but the worst of them never came.”

“The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.”

“Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter.”

Previous President: Rutherford B. Hayes
Next President: Chester A. Arthur