On graduation, he went on to study law. [85] Hayes's opponent, New York Governor Samuel J. Tilden, carried New York and won the popular vote nationwide, but after the resolution of several months of disputes over twenty electoral votes (from Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, and South Carolina), Hayes was declared the winner. Chester Arthur Franklin was a leading African American editor and publisher of the Kansas City Call, who used his newspaper platform to advocate for systemic change and equity, both for Kansas City's black community and for African Americans nationwide. His father, William Ford (1826-1905), was born in County Cork, Ireland, to a family that had emigrated from Somerset, England in the 16th century. [40] In 1852, Arthur moved again, to Cohoes, New York, to become the principal of a school at which his sister, Malvina, was a teacher. [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. In 1904, Taft took on the role of secretary of war in the administration read more, New York City real estate developer and reality TV star Donald Trump (1946- ) served as Americas 45th president from January 2017-January 2021. [102][103] In the state elections of 1879, he and Conkling worked to ensure that the Republican nominees for state offices would be men of Conkling's faction, who had become known as Stalwarts. Two days later, in Washington, D.C., Arthur was given the oath of office by the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. [125] Even so, the Senate remained deadlocked for two months over Garfield's nominations because of Conkling's opposition to some of them. September 19, 1881 James Garfield dies Having become friendly with Murphy over their shared love of horses during summer vacations on the Jersey Shore, in July of that year, Grant appointed him to the Collector's position. [149] Republicans lost seats in the 1882 congressional elections, in which Democrats campaigned on the reform issue. [20] Arthur also supported the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish republican organization founded in America; he showed this support by wearing a green coat. To Consent to the Nomination of Theodore Roosevelt as Collector of Customs at New York. General Chester Arthur's Civil War ended effective January 1, 1863. As president from 1881 to 1885, Arthur advocated for civil service reform. Son: Chester Alan Arthur, Jr. (socialite . [88] Sherman was less enthusiastic about the reforms than Hayes and Jay, but he approved the commission's report and ordered Arthur to make the personnel reductions. Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 - November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as the twenty-first President of the United States.Arthur was a member of the Republican Party and worked as a lawyer before becoming the 20th vice president under James Garfield.While Garfield was mortally wounded by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, he did not die until September 19, at which . [152] Even after he signed the act into law, its proponents doubted Arthur's commitment to reform. [82] As a result, his income dropped to $12,000 a yearmore than his nominal boss, the Secretary of the Treasury, but far less than what he had previously received. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. [196] Reform-minded Republicans, friendlier to Arthur after he endorsed civil service reform, were still not certain enough of his reform credentials to back him over Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont, who had long favored their cause. [146] Although Arthur had worked closely with Dorsey before his presidency, once in office he supported the investigation and forced the resignation of officials suspected in the scandal. [169][170] The Chinese Exclusion Act attempted to stop all Chinese immigration into the United States for ten years, with exceptions for diplomats, teachers, students, merchants, and travelers. Chester A. Arthur was not supposed to be president. Although Garfield initially survived the shooting, he battled infections and died two months later, at age 49, on September 19. President Arthur signed the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, one of the most consequential pieces of immigration legislation in United States History. [66] Arthur had a better reputation than Murphy, but reformers still criticized the patronage structure and the moiety system as corrupt. [78] He got along with his subordinates and, since Murphy had already filled the staff with Conkling's adherents, he had few occasions to fire anyone. [132] Arthur was reluctant to be seen acting as president while Garfield lived, and for the next two months there was a void of authority in the executive office, with Garfield too weak to carry out his duties, and Arthur reluctant to assume them. Facts about Chester A Arthur 2: in American civil war To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Arthur owned at least 80 pairs of pants. He withdrew troops from the Reconstruction states in order to restore local control and good will, a decision that many perceived read more, Ulysses Grant (1822-1885) commanded the victorious Union army during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and served as the 18th U.S. president from 1869 to 1877. [44] He won the case, and the verdict led to the desegregation of the New York City streetcar lines.[44]. Important event: Chester Arthur (1829-1886), the 21st U.S. president, took office after the death of President James Garfield (1831-1881). Arthur took this step to ensure procedural compliance; there had been a lingering question about whether a state court judge (Brady) could administer a federal oath of office. In the presidential election later. He previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A. Garfield.Arthur succeeded the presidency upon Garfield's death in September 1881two months after being shot by an assassin. Hallmarked Chester. [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. Arthur attended high school and Union College in Schenectady, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. [218] The statue was dedicated in 1899 and unveiled by Arthur's sister, Mary Arthur McElroy. [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. "[154], With high revenue held over from wartime taxes, the federal government had collected more than it spent since 1866; by 1882 the surplus reached $145 million. [33][f][34], Arthur spent some of his childhood years living in the New York towns of York, Perry, Greenwich, Lansingburgh, Schenectady, and Hoosick. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Arthur approves a bill to appoint a tariff commission; the commission eventually recommends tariff reductions. in 1883. [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. As president, Chester A. Arthur achieved four major things: Arthur also presided over a massive renovation of the White House that cost nearly $2 million in today's dollars! Congress passes a bill repealing the 1862 test oath, which required office holders to swear they had never engaged in illegal or disloyal conduct. Chester A. Arthur | Presidents of the United States (POTUS) Chester A. Arthur 1 2 3 4 5 21st President of the United States (September 19, 1881 to March 3, 1885) Nickname: "The Gentleman Boss"; "Elegant Arthur" Born: October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont Died: November 18, 1886, in New York, New York Father: William Arthur (1796-1875) The United States participates in an international conference establishing standard time. [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. [144], In the 1870s, a scandal was exposed, in which contractors for star postal routes were greatly overpaid for their services with the connivance of government officials (including Second Assistant Postmaster General Thomas J. Brady and former senator Stephen Wallace Dorsey). Chester A. Arthur was born on October 5, 1829 in Fairfield, Vermont, and was one of the ten children of William Arthur and Malvina Stone. Arthur was also involved in the so-called Lemmon slave case, in which the New York Supreme Court ruled in 1860 that slaves being transferred to a slave state through New York would be freed. This guided Chester A. Arthur Bio Poem Activity is a great research and poetry writing activity for a lesson, literacy or poetry center or even your substitute file for Presidents' Day or any time of year!Print and Go or Assign the Easel version. [12] William graduated from college in Belfast and immigrated to the Province of Lower Canada in 1819 or 1820. As president from 1881 to 1885, Arthur advocated for civil service. 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. In addition, he indulged his military interest by becoming Judge Advocate General for the Second Brigade of the New York Militia. [1] [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. [193] The vacation had the opposite effect, and Arthur suffered from intense pain before returning to Washington. Following the war, he devoted more time to New York Republican politics and quickly rose in Senator Roscoe Conkling's political organization. Chester Alan Arthur was born October 5, 1830, in Fairfield, Vermont. [104] They were successful, but narrowly, as Cornell was nominated for governor by a vote of 234216. He was a member of the ultra exclusive Restigouche Salmon Club. He remained at the job until 1870 at a salary of $10,000 a year. [10] William Arthur also spent a brief time studying law, but while still in Waterville, he departed from both his legal studies and his Presbyterian upbringing to join the Free Will Baptists; he spent the rest of his life as a minister in that sect. The act establishes the Republicans as the party in favor of higher protective tariffs. [139] His son, Chester Jr., was then a freshman at Princeton University and his daughter, Nell, stayed in New York with a governess until 1882; when she arrived, Arthur shielded her from the intrusive press as much as he could. [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. [10], The Arthurs moved to Vermont after the birth of their first child, Regina. 1. [166] To their surprise, Arthur vetoed it and requested revisions, which they made and Arthur then approved. Typically, these jobs were dispensed to adherents of the political machine responsible for appointing the Collector. His father was a preacher. [35] One of his first teachers said Arthur was a boy "frank and open in manners and genial in disposition. American Presidents Hayes, Garfield and Arthur. [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. On September 21, he returned to Long Branch to take part in Garfield's funeral, and then joined the funeral train to Washington. [75] Grant then nominated Arthur, with the New York Times commenting, "his name very seldom rises to the surface of metropolitan life and yet moving like a mighty undercurrent this man during the last 10 years has done more to mold the course of the Republican Party in this state than any other one man in the country. Chester, or Chet, as he was known, attended Union College in Schenectady, New York. [83] In 1876, Conkling was a candidate for president at the 1876 Republican National Convention, but the nomination was won by reformer Rutherford B. Hayes on the seventh ballot. 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. As a young boy, he attended schools in Perry and Greenwich, New York, before enrolling at the Union College in 1845. He kept the condition a secret from the public; however, his poor health prevented him from actively seeking reelection in 1884. [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. [101] In September 1879 Arthur became Chairman of the New York State Republican Executive Committee, a post in which he served until October 1881. [139], Arthur quickly came into conflict with Garfield's cabinet, most of whom represented his opposition within the party. Arthur vetoes the Carriage of Passengers at Sea Bill, a steamboat safety bill, claiming that it contains several major technical errors. They collected large amounts of money that came from taxes. Arthur signed the Pendleton Act, which banned salary kickbacks and required merit exams for any professional advancement. President Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland attend the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. [39] Coincidentally, future president James A. Garfield taught penmanship at the same school three years later, but the two did not cross paths during their teaching careers. While Arthur reveled in political party life, his family ultimately kept him morally grounded. North Fairfield Baptist Church 5964 Duffy Hill Road, Fairfield, Vermont Chester Alan Arthur, one of the few men to serve his entire presidency without ever being elected to office (John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and Gerald Ford were the others), died on this day in 1886. Windup Teacher. More About Chester A. Arthur. [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. [145] Reformers feared Arthur, as a former supporter of the spoils system, would not commit to continuing the investigation into the scandal. Political corruption permeated American . The Democratic National Convention meets in Chicago, nominating Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks for President and vice president, respectively. [158] On August 1, 1882, Arthur vetoed the bill to widespread popular acclaim;[158] in his veto message, his principal objection was that it appropriated funds for purposes "not for the common defense or general welfare, and which do not promote commerce among the States. The President Chester Arthur Timeline provides a brief record of events in the order of their occurrence. [167], A more contentious debate materialized over the status of Chinese immigrants; in January 1868, the Senate had ratified the Burlingame Treaty with China, allowing an unrestricted flow of Chinese into the country. [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. Critics have long contended that Twain's Puddin' Head Wilson is based on Arthur's reforming of the Civil Service. Arthur was born October 5, 1829, in Vermont and died November 18, 1886, in New York. [132] Also, after Conkling's resignation, the Senate had adjourned without electing a president pro tempore, who would normally follow Arthur in the succession. Burt. Arthur is remembered primarily for three things: He was never elected to the presidency and two significant pieces of legislation, one positive and the other negative. [191] Arthur's successor, Grover Cleveland, finding that title belonged to the Native Americans, revoked Arthur's order a few months later. [99] Conkling opposed the confirmation of Merritt and Burt when the Senate reconvened in February 1879, but Merritt was approved by a vote of 3125, as was Burt by 3119, giving Hayes his most significant civil service reform victory. [125] Immediately, the Democrats attempted to organize the Senate, knowing that the vacancies would soon be filled by Republicans. Arthur was president from 1881-1885, and his presidency was mostly unremarkable, except for a few major events. Diseases And Disabilities. . [137][m] He initially took up residence at the home of Senator John P. Jones, while a White House remodeling he had ordered was carried out, including addition of an elaborate fifty-foot glass screen by Louis Comfort Tiffany. He joined other young Whigs in support of Henry Clay, even participating in a brawl against students who supported James K. Polk during the 1844 United States presidential election. [43] The argument was successful, and after several appeals was upheld by the New York Court of Appeals in 1860. [194] Reporters accompanied the presidential party, helping to publicize the new National Park system. [166] In July 1882 Congress easily passed a bill regulating steamships that carried immigrants to the United States. Later that day he took a train to Long Branch to pay his respects to Garfield and to leave a card of sympathy for his wife, afterwards returning to New York City. Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 - November 18, 1886) was a politician of the United States who served as the twenty-first President. [108] Neither candidate commanded a majority of delegates and, deadlocked after thirty-six ballots, the convention turned to a dark horse, James A. Garfield, an Ohio Congressman and Civil War general who was neither Stalwart nor Half-Breed. A skilled fisherman Chester A. Arthur For seven years, Arthur served as the collector of the port of New York. So too, as it turns out, is the New York City house in which Arthur was sworn in as president, and died just five . 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