Assassination of James A. Garfield

Garfield assassination engraving cropped

1881 murder of the 20th President of the United States

Assassination of James A. Garfield

Contemporary engraving of the assassination

The assassination of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, occurred on July 2, 1881, at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C.. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker. Garfield survived the initial shooting but succumbed to his injuries on September 19, 1881.

Background

James A. Garfield was elected as the 20th President of the United States in 1880. His presidency was marked by a commitment to civil service reform and a desire to reconcile the divisions left by the American Civil War. However, his term was cut short by his assassination.

Charles J. Guiteau was a lawyer and writer who had unsuccessfully sought a consular post from the Garfield administration. Believing he was owed a position and suffering from delusions of grandeur, Guiteau decided to assassinate Garfield.

The Assassination

On the morning of July 2, 1881, Garfield was at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, preparing to leave for a summer vacation. At approximately 9:30 AM, Guiteau approached Garfield from behind and fired two shots from a .44 Webley British Bulldog revolver. One bullet grazed Garfield's arm, while the other lodged in his back.

Garfield was taken to the White House, where doctors attempted to locate and remove the bullet. Despite their efforts, they were unable to find it, and Garfield's condition worsened over the following weeks.

Medical Treatment and Death

Garfield's medical treatment was hampered by the lack of modern medical knowledge and the unsanitary conditions in which he was treated. The doctors' repeated probing of the wound with unsterilized instruments led to severe infections. Garfield was moved to the Jersey Shore in an attempt to aid his recovery, but his condition continued to deteriorate.

On September 19, 1881, Garfield died from complications related to his injuries, including blood poisoning and bronchial pneumonia. He was succeeded by his Vice President, Chester A. Arthur.

Aftermath

Guiteau was arrested immediately after the shooting and was later tried for murder. His trial was one of the first high-profile cases to involve the insanity defense. Despite his claims of insanity, Guiteau was found guilty and was executed by hanging on June 30, 1882.

Garfield's assassination led to increased public support for civil service reform, culminating in the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883. This act marked the beginning of the end for the spoils system and laid the groundwork for the modern professional civil service.

Legacy

The assassination of James A. Garfield is a significant event in American history, highlighting the vulnerabilities of public figures and the need for improved medical practices. Garfield's death also served as a catalyst for civil service reform, which has had a lasting impact on the structure and function of the United States government.

See also

• List of United States presidential assassination attempts and plots
• Presidency of James A. Garfield
• Chester A. Arthur
• Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act