James A. Garfield A brave man is a man who dares to look the Devil in the face and tell him he is a Devil. James A. Garfield James A. Garfield

Born: November 19,1831 Birthplace: Orange, Ohio Parents: Abram and Eliza Ballou Garfield Wife: Lucretia Rudolph Children: Eliza, Harry, James, Mary, Irvin, Abram, Edward

Background James A. Garfield was the last president to be born in a log cabin, with his father dieing two years after. James mother worked in the fields and took in washing and Garfield took to reading novels and living a fantasy life so vivid That he was very accident prone. Garfield had three siblings, two sisters and a brother, and they all grew up in relative Poverty.

Personality  “ Garfield is a grand, noble fellow, but fickle, unstable, more brains but no such will as Sherman, brilliant like Blaine but timid and timid and hesitating” concluded Sen. Henery L. Dawes who spent a dozen years with Garfield in the house.

Education James A Garfield became a sailor at sixteen. After falling over board fourteen times and became seriously ill. His mother persuaded him that he needed a education. She packed him off to Geauga Academy, Here he discovered that he loved learning. James A Garfield became a sailor at sixteen. After falling over board fourteen times and became seriously ill. His mother persuaded him that he needed a education. She packed him off to Geauga Academy, Here he discovered that he loved learning. Garfield remained in in the Class room for the next Dozen years. He attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute at Hiram, Ohio He then graduated from Williams College in 1856.

Occupations  When Garfield was younger he had a dream to pursue sailing. So he left at the age of sixteen and worked on a canal boat.  His early disadvantages made him susceptible to get-rich-quick schemes.  He became a teacher at Western Reserve and soon became its president. He taught Latin, Greek, English lit.  When Garfield was younger he had a dream to pursue sailing. So he left at the age of sixteen and worked on a canal boat.  His early disadvantages made him susceptible to get-rich-quick schemes.  He became a teacher at Western Reserve and soon became its president. He taught Latin, Greek, English lit. He was admitted to the bar

Military  Garfield was a General in the civil war  Ordered into field at Big Sandy.  Garfield commanded a Brigade at Shiloh but was not ordered into fighting until the second day, late in the afternoon, when the battle was over.  He was appointed chief of staff under General Rosecrans.  He resigned from army to take a seat in house of representatives.  Garfield was a General in the civil war  Ordered into field at Big Sandy.  Garfield commanded a Brigade at Shiloh but was not ordered into fighting until the second day, late in the afternoon, when the battle was over.  He was appointed chief of staff under General Rosecrans.  He resigned from army to take a seat in house of representatives.

Political careers  James A. Garfield was a U.S Representative from Ohio.  He was quite popular, especially in Ohio.  It was thought by many that Garfield engaged in some scandal in the House, as had many other Republicans in those days, so it didn’t damage his reputation too much.  He was a supporter of the radical republicans party  James A. Garfield was a U.S Representative from Ohio.  He was quite popular, especially in Ohio.  It was thought by many that Garfield engaged in some scandal in the House, as had many other Republicans in those days, so it didn’t damage his reputation too much.  He was a supporter of the radical republicans party

Important actions as president  Garfield served only four months before he was shot by Charles J. Guiteau. So he did not accomplish much in office’ Garfield’s one important action was to challenge the stranglehold of Senator Roscoe Conkling on the Port Authority of New York. Garfield had unwittingly nominated a man for the Port Authority that the powerful Conkling did not support. The boss tried to persuade other Senators to join him against the President, but when the president refused to back down, they bailed on Conkling, giving Garfield the victory.

This is an accurate rendering of the moment when Charles guiteau shot president James Garfield as Garfield and secretary of state James G. Blaine entered the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station

Assassination  Charles J. Guiteau believed that he was some what responsible for Garfield’s victory in the 1980 election. He purchased a.44 Webley British Bulldog revolver, after he insisted Garfield award him a political post. He shot Garfield in the back at the Baltimore and Potomac railroad station. After eleven months of bad medical care Garfield Succumbed to infections and died.

Legacy  Garfield is known as being one of the four almost forgotten presidents after the civil war.  He was also the second president to be assassinated while in office  James A. Garfield attacked political corruption and won back for the presidency a measure of prestige it had lost during the reconstruction period.  Garfield is known as being one of the four almost forgotten presidents after the civil war.  He was also the second president to be assassinated while in office  James A. Garfield attacked political corruption and won back for the presidency a measure of prestige it had lost during the reconstruction period.

Citations  James M. McPherson.To The Best of My Ability.New York: Sean Moore, Balites,Gerald. “James Abraham Garfield ( ).” Joseph N. Kane.Facts About The President. United States of America H.W. Wilson company, Harvey,James. “The Legacy Of James A Garfield.”