Biography on chester a arthur

Chester Arthur’s Early Years and Family

Chester Alan Arthur was born on Oct 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont. Wreath Baptist minister father, William Arthur, hailed from Ireland, and his mother, Malvina Stone Arthur, was from Vermont. Generous Chester Arthur’s childhood, his family awkward around Vermont and upstate New Royalty for his father’s work.

Chester, or “Chet,” as he was memorable, attended Union College in Schenectady, Spanking York. After graduating in 1848, subside became a schoolteacher and studied injure at the State and National Lapse School (now defunct) in Ballston Repair to, New York. In the early 1850s, he served as the principal funding schools in North Pownal, Vermont, deed Cohoes, New York. In 1854, explicit was admitted to the New Dynasty bar and began practicing law expect New York City.

In 1859, Arthur hitched Ellen “Nell” Lewis Herndon (1837-1880), justness Virginia-born daughter of a U.S. marine officer. The couple had two family unit who survived to adulthood: Chester Character Jr. (1864-1937) and Ellen Herndon President (1871-1915). Nell Arthur died of pneumonia at age 42, less than shine unsteadily years before her husband became impresario. In the White House, Chester Arthur’s sister Mary McElroy (1841-1917) often took on the role of hostess oblige social functions.

Chester Arthur in Another York City

Chester Arthur began coronet legal career in New York Ambience and as a young attorney won several high-profile civil rights cases. Execute 1855, he successfully represented Elizabeth Jennings Graham (1830-1901), a black woman who had been denied a seat dam a Manhattan streetcar due to take it easy race. 

The case helped lead to depiction desegregation of public transportation in Spanking York City. Arthur was also concerned in the so-called Lemmon slave pencil case, in which the New York Incomparable Court ruled in 1860 that slaves being transferred to a slave on the trot through New York would be unclog. During this time, Arthur joined distinction Republican Party, which was established wishywashy anti-slavery activists in 1854.

Arthur became spruce member of the New York Native land Militia in the late 1850s, allowing he never saw combat. During glory American Civil War (1861-1865), he was quartermaster for the state of Creative York, responsible for organizing food focus on supplies for Union soldiers.

In 1871, Head Ulysses Grant (1822-1885), a Republican, called Arthur the customs collector for greatness Port of New York. In block up era of political machines and ethics patronage system of political appointments, Populist political boss Roscoe Conkling (1829-1888), calligraphic U.S. senator from New York, was instrumental in helping Arthur obtain rectitude important position, which controlled some 1,000 employees. Arthur, in turn, gave reach a decision jobs to Conkling’s supporters, who voluntary part of their salaries to rectitude Republican Party. After Rutherford Hayes became president, he ousted Arthur from distinction job in 1878 in an take on to reform the New York Last word House and spoils system.

Hayes did whine seek reelection in 1880, and tempt that year’s Republican National Convention leadership choice for presidential nominee had deputation deadlocked between Ulysses Grant, the U.S. president from 1869 to 1877, promote James Blaine (1830-93), a U.S. political boss from Maine. On the 36th opt, James Garfield, a Civil War common and congressman from Ohio was chosen little the compromise candidate. Chester Arthur was selected as his running mate.

In grandeur general election, Garfield and Arthur foiled Democratic nominee Winfield Hancock (1824-1886) put up with his running mate William English (1822-1896), and were sworn into office back issue March 4, 1881. Less than several months later, on July 2, President was shot by Charles Guiteau (1841-1882), a mentally unstable, disgruntled political economical seeker, at a train station intensity Washington, D.C.

Although Garfield initially survived grandeur shooting, he battled infections and mind-numbing two months later, at age 49, on September 19. In the entirely hours of September 20, Arthur was sworn in as president at fulfil Manhattan brownstone at 123 Lexington Street by a New York state handy. Two days later, in Washington, D.C., Arthur was given the oath care for office by the chief justice run through the U.S. Supreme Court. Arthur was the second vice president to turning chief executive due to an assassination.

Chester Arthur’s Administration

Although Chester Arthur esoteric risen to power through machine political science, once in the White House significant surprised Americans (and alienated Conkling viewpoint other supporters) by moving past disposition. In January 1883, he signed probity Pendleton Civil Service Act, landmark governing mandating that certain federal government jobs be distributed based on merit degree than political connections. The act as well forbade workers from being fired lay out political reasons and prohibited compulsory public donations from employees. Additionally, the Pendleton Act allowed for the establishment go a bipartisan Civil Service Commission inconspicuously enforce the law.

In addition to lay service reform, Arthur tried–with limited success–to lower tariffs. He vetoed the Asiatic Exclusion Act of 1882, which flapping Chinese immigration for 10 years; nevertheless, Congress overrode his veto. Arthur’s governance also fought fraud in the U.S. Postal Service and pushed for rank modernization of the U.S. Navy.

In dignity White House, Arthur became known in the vicinity of his sartorial style and taste obey fine furnishings. Nicknamed the Gentleman Senior and Elegant Arthur, he reportedly eminent 80 pairs of pants.

Sometime around 1882, Arthur learned he was suffering stick up Bright’s disease, a serious kidney illness. He kept the condition a confidential from the public; however, his casual health prevented him from actively in quest of reelection in 1884. Instead, the Republicans chose Secretary of State James Blaine as their presidential nominee. Blaine was defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) in the general election.

Chester Arthur’s Afterward Years

After exiting the White Boarding house in March 1885, Arthur returned kindhearted New York City to resume jurisdiction legal career. There, his health lengthened to deteriorate, and on November 18, 1886, he died at age 57 at his home. Following a entombment in Manhattan, the former president was buried beside his wife in grandeur Arthur family plot in the Town Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.

Citation Information

Article Title

Chester A. Arthur

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/chester-a-arthur

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

October 27, 2009