During his childhood, he moved seven times. Upon the murder of James Garfield in 1881, Arthur became the twenty-first president of the United States. Arthur receives Korean ambassadors in New York. In the presidential election later. [65] His ascent in the party hierarchy kept him busy most nights, and his wife resented his continual absence from the family home on party business. [14] They married in Dunham on April 12, 1821, soon after meeting. [10] William Arthur became an outspoken abolitionist, which often made him unpopular with some members of his congregations and contributed to the family's frequent moves. [133] Judge John R. Brady of the New York Supreme Court administered the oath of office in Arthur's home at 2:15a.m. on September 20. [90], Hayes further struck at the heart of the spoils system by issuing an executive order that forbade assessments, and barred federal office holders from "tak[ing] part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. [66], Conkling succeeded to leadership of the conservative wing of New York's Republicans by 1868 as Morgan concentrated more time and effort on national politics, including serving as chairman of the Republican National Committee. Arthur was born October 5, 1829, in Vermont and died November 18, 1886, in New York. portrait of chester alan arthur, 21st president of the united states - chester a. arthur stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images The Great Bridge - President Arthur and his Party Crossing the Suspended Highway, drawn by Schell & Hogan, Harper's Weekly, June 2, 1883. Arthur approves a bill to appoint a tariff commission; the commission eventually recommends tariff reductions. $10,000 in 1870 is equal to $214,289 in present terms. Following the war, he devoted more time to New York Republican politics and quickly rose in Senator Roscoe Conkling's political organization. With great fanfare, the granite monument marking what was believed to have been the site of Chester A. Arthur's birth was dedicated in 1903 on land granted to the State of Vermont by Peter Bent Brigham Northrop. [43] Campaign biographers would later give Arthur much of the credit for the victory; in fact his role was minor, although he was certainly an active participant in the case. [166] He also signed in August of that year the Immigration Act of 1882, which levied a 50-cent tax on immigrants to the United States, and excluded from entry the mentally ill, the intellectually disabled, criminals, or any other person potentially dependent upon public assistance. [156] After conference with the Senate, the bill that emerged only reduced tariffs by an average of 1.47%. [125] Even so, the Senate remained deadlocked for two months over Garfield's nominations because of Conkling's opposition to some of them. Facts about Chester an Arthur 1: the life span Chester A Arthur was born on 5th October 1829 in Fairfield, Vermont and died on 18 November 1886. [90] Notwithstanding his cooperation, the Jay Commission issued a second report critical of Arthur and other Custom House employees, and subsequent reports urging a complete reorganization. [47] In 1859, they were married at Calvary Episcopal Church in Manhattan. The bill establishes a three-man Civil Service Commission and specifies rules for filling federal government positions according to a merit system. The Washington Monument is dedicated in Washington, D.C. Congress passes an act prohibiting the fencing of public lands in the west. However, after President Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, he passed away on September 19 in the year of 1881. [106] Arthur felt devastated, and perhaps guilty, and never remarried. [143] Frelinghuysen advised Arthur not to fill any future vacancies with Stalwarts, but when Postmaster General James resigned in January 1882, Arthur selected Timothy O. Howe, a Wisconsin Stalwart. The New York World summed up Arthur's presidency at his death in 1886: "No duty was neglected in his administration, and no adventurous project alarmed the nation. [195], As the 1884 presidential election approached, James G. Blaine was considered the favorite for the Republican nomination, but Arthur, too, contemplated a run for a full term as president. A chronology of key events in the life of Chester Alan Arthur (1829-1886), twenty-first president of the Unites States. Congress was unable to override the veto, but passed a new bill reducing the immigration ban to ten years. Additionally, the Pendleton Act allowed for the establishment of a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to enforce the law. [138], Arthur's sister, Mary Arthur McElroy, served as White House hostess for her widowed brother;[138] Arthur became Washington's most eligible bachelor and his social life became the subject of rumors, though romantically, he remained singularly devoted to the memory of his late wife. The territory had been ceded to the United States by Russia in an 1867 treaty. [163] Arthur and Frelinghuysen continued Blaine's efforts to encourage trade among the nations of the Western Hemisphere; a treaty with Mexico providing for reciprocal tariff reductions was signed in 1882 and approved by the Senate in 1884. Arthur is sworn in as President of the United States. Grover Cleveland is inaugurated as the twenty-second President of the United States. During the Civil read more, Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), who served as the 22nd and 24th U.S. president, was known as a political reformer. [89] Arthur appointed a committee of Custom House workers to determine where the cuts were to be made and, after a written protest, carried them out. [177][p] The contracts to build the ABCD ships were all awarded to the low bidder, John Roach & Sons of Chester, Pennsylvania,[179] even though Roach once employed Secretary Chandler as a lobbyist. North Fairfield Baptist Church 5964 Duffy Hill Road, Fairfield, Vermont [179] Democrats turned against the "New Navy" projects and, when they won control of the 48th Congress, refused to appropriate funds for seven more steel warships. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), he was quartermaster for the state of New York, responsible for organizing food and supplies for Union soldiers. [52] The closest Arthur came to the front was when he traveled south to inspect New York troops near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in May 1862, shortly after forces under Major General Irvin McDowell seized the town during the Peninsula Campaign. [50] He was so efficient at housing and outfitting the troops that poured into New York City that he was promoted to inspector general of the state militia in March 1862, and then to quartermaster general that July. Chester Alan Arthur was born October 5, 1830, in Fairfield, Vermont. It was said he had over eighty pairs of pants and often changed them several times a day. Summary of President Chester Arthur for Kids: "Walrus" Summary: Chester Arthur (1829-1886), nicknamed the "Walrus" or "The Dude President", was the 21st American President and served in office from 1881-1885. Did you know? [57] The couple took their son's death hard, and when they had another son, Chester Alan Jr., in 1864, they lavished attention on him. [144] Navy Secretary William H. Hunt was next to resign, in April 1882, and Arthur attempted a more balanced approach by appointing Half-Breed William E. Chandler to the post, on Blaine's recommendation. Political opponent of the President and former secretary of state James G. Blaine defeats Arthur for the nomination; John A. Logan is selected as vice president. [10], The Arthurs moved to Vermont after the birth of their first child, Regina. While in office, Arthur rose above partisanship and in 1883 signed the Pendleton Act, which required government jobs to be distributed based on merit. Chester A. Arthur 's tenure as the 21st president of the United States began on September 19, 1881, when he succeeded to the presidency upon the assassination of President James A. Garfield, and ended on March 4, 1885. July 14, 2017. [165], The 47th Congress spent a great deal of time on immigration, and at times was in accord with Arthur. [205] In 1889, a monument was placed on Arthur's burial plot by sculptor Ephraim Keyser of New York, consisting of a giant bronze female angel figure placing a bronze palm leaf on a granite sarcophagus. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Chester A. Arthur was born on October 5, 1829, in North Fairfield, Vermont. For years, government jobs in the United States had been distributed via the spoils system. In 1859, Arthur married Ellen Nell Lewis Herndon (1837-1880), the Virginia-born daughter of a U.S. naval officer. Chester A. Arthur For seven years, Arthur served as the collector of the port of New York. On May 24, 1883, President Chester Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland participated in the ceremonial opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. [135], Arthur arrived in Washington, D.C. on September 21. [16][17] He was named "Chester" after Chester Abell,[18] the physician and family friend who assisted in his birth, and "Alan" for his paternal grandfather. Arthur attended high school and Union College in Schenectady, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. "[76], The Senate confirmed Arthur's appointment; as Collector he controlled nearly a thousand jobs and received compensation as great as any federal officeholder. France presents the United States with the Statue of Liberty at a ceremony held in Paris. Chester A. Arthur The 21st President of the United States Presidents George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren. He vetoed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years; however, Congress overrode his veto. Suffering from poor health, he did not run for reelection in 1884. [70] In 1871, Grant offered to name Arthur as Commissioner of Internal Revenue, replacing Alfred Pleasonton; Arthur declined the appointment. [136] On September 22, he re-took the oath of office, this time before Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite. biography Chester Alan Arthur was born in the village of Fairfield, Vt., Oct. 5, 1829. Chester A. Arthur Is the Most Forgotten President in U.S. History, According to Science Chester A. Arthur Is the Most Forgotten President in U.S. History, According to Science "Unless. [48] The couple had three children: After his marriage, Arthur devoted his efforts to building his law practice, but also found time to engage in Republican party politics. When New Yorkers elected Democrat Horatio Seymour governor in November 1862, Arthur lost his position to a member of the other party. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In the White House, Chester Arthurs sister Mary McElroy (1841-1917) often took on the role of hostess for social functions. Chandler, an aggressive administrator, purged the Navy of wood-and-canvas warship supporters and created the Naval War College. [68][g] Arthur resigned after Democrats controlled by William M. Tweed of Tammany Hall won a legislative majority, which meant they could name their own appointee. [173] Garfield's Secretary of the Navy, William H. Hunt advocated reform of the Navy. [149] This legislation greatly expanded similar civil service reforms attempted by President Franklin Pierce 30 years earlier. [13] Malvina Stone met William Arthur when Arthur was teaching school in Dunham, Quebec, near the Vermont border. [205][q] The next morning, Arthur suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and never regained consciousness. Arthur made appointments to fill two vacancies on the United States Supreme Court. This law created a 10-year ban on all Chinese immigration to the United States and prohibited Chinese immigrants already in the country from becoming U.S. citizens. [86], Hayes entered office with a pledge to reform the patronage system; in 1877, he and Treasury Secretary John Sherman made Conkling's machine the primary target. The Presidency of Chester Arthur spanned the period in United States history that encompasses the events of the Maturation Era or the Gilded Age. Arthur was born in Vermont in 1829 and was the son of a Baptist preacher. [74] Grant offered the position to John Augustus Griswold and William Orton, each of whom declined and recommended Arthur. During the process, more than 20 wagonloads of furnishings from previous presidential administrations were cleared out and auctioned off. "[4] [182] He followed the same pattern in other Southern states, forging coalitions with independents and Greenback Party members. William's mother was born Eliza McHarg and she married Alan Arthur. [128][k] The Republican majority in the state legislature was divided on the question, to Conkling and Platt's surprise, and an intense campaign in the statehouse ensued. [218], Arthur's unpopularity in life carried over into his assessment by historians and his reputation after leaving office disappeared. "[220] By 1975, however, Thomas C. Reeves would write that Arthur's "appointments, if unspectacular, were unusually sound; the corruption and scandal that dominated business and politics of the period did not tarnish his administration. [161], During the Garfield administration, Secretary of State James G. Blaine attempted to invigorate United States diplomacy in Latin America, urging reciprocal trade agreements and offering to mediate disputes among the Latin American nations. [198] He played no role in the 1884 campaign, which Blaine would later blame for his loss that November to the Democratic nominee, Grover Cleveland.[199]. A Vermont native, he became active in Republican politics in the 1850s as a New York City lawyer. [197] He kept up a token effort, believing that to drop out would cast doubt on his actions in office and raise questions about his health, but by the time the convention began in June, his defeat was assured. In the early hours of September 20, Arthur was sworn in as president at his Manhattan brownstone at 123 Lexington Avenue by a New York state judge. Major Events During Arthur's Presidency As president, Chester A. Arthur achieved four major things: Civil Service Reform Limiting Immigration Building a Modern Navy Arthur also. [128] Once there, he traveled with Conkling to Albany, where the former senator hoped for a quick re-election to the Senate, and with it, a defeat for the Garfield administration. [152] Even after he signed the act into law, its proponents doubted Arthur's commitment to reform. More About Chester A. Arthur. His most famous case was his suit against a . [188] The American Indian Wars were winding down, and public sentiment was shifting toward more favorable treatment of Native Americans. Before he moved into the White House, Chester Arthur hired designer and stained-glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) to redecorate the state rooms. [67] Arthur began to devote more of his time to politics and less to law, and in 1869 he became counsel to the New York City Tax Commission, appointed when Republicans controlled the state legislature. [35] One of his first teachers said Arthur was a boy "frank and open in manners and genial in disposition. Chester Arthur was born in North Fairfield, Vermont. Displayed in the 1953 reconstruction of the boyhood home of Chester A. Arthur, the exhibit panels examine the life and career of the 21 st President of the United States, who was born in Vermont on October 5, 1829. [105] Arthur and the machine had rebuked Hayes and their intra-party rivals, but Arthur had only a few days to enjoy his triumph when, on January 12, 1880, his wife died suddenly while he was in Albany organizing the political agenda for the coming year. Garfield won the Republican nomination for president in 1880, and Arthur was nominated for vice president to balance the ticket as an Eastern Stalwart. Guiteau's poem also states he had (incorrectly) presumed that Arthur would pardon him for the assassination. The foreman of the jury charges that a government agent attempted to bribe him, and the judge orders a retrial, to begin on December 7, 1882. His first son died suddenly when he was only three years old. [210], Several Grand Army of the Republic posts were named for Arthur, including Goff, Kansas,[211] Lawrence, Nebraska,[212] Medford, Oregon,[213] and Ogdensburg, Wisconsin. Chester A. Arthur, James A. Garfield's vice president, had received all his political jobs--including the vice presidency--in return for his loyalty to the Republican Party. President Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland attend the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. [96], Arthur's job was spared only until July 1878, when Hayes took advantage of a Congressional recess to fire him and Cornell, replacing them with the recess appointment of Merritt and Silas W. 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chester a arthur important events