21st President of the United States

21st President of the United States
Abraham Bogardus / Adam Cuerden · Public domain · source
Name	Chester A. Arthur
Order	21st
Vicepresident	none
Term start	September 20, 1881
Term end	March 4, 1885
Predecessor	James A. Garfield
Successor	Grover Cleveland
Birth date	October 5, 1829
Birth place	Fairfield, Vermont
Death date	November 18, 1886
Death place	New York City, New York
Party	Republican
Spouse	Ellen Herndon Arthur

21st President of the United States. The 21st President of the United States was Chester A. Arthur, who served from September 20, 1881, to March 4, 1885. He was a member of the Republican Party and became president after the assassination of James A. Garfield. Arthur's presidency was marked by significant events, including the Pendleton Civil Service Act and the Tariff Act of 1883, which were influenced by his interactions with notable figures such as Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell.

● Early Life and Career

Chester A. Arthur was born in Fairfield, Vermont, to William Arthur and Malvina Stone Arthur, and grew up in New York State. He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, and later studied law at Madison University, now known as Colgate University. Arthur's early career included working as a teacher and a lawyer, and he became involved in New York City politics, befriending prominent figures like Roscoe Conkling and Ulysses S. Grant. He served in the American Civil War as a quartermaster and later became the Collector of the Port of New York, a position that brought him into contact with influential individuals such as Jay Gould, J.P. Morgan, and Cornelius Vanderbilt.

● Presidency

Arthur's presidency began after the assassination of James A. Garfield by Charles J. Guiteau, and he was sworn in on September 20, 1881, at his home in New York City, New York. During his time in office, Arthur focused on issues like civil service reform, which led to the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Act, signed into law on January 16, 1883. This act was influenced by the efforts of reformers such as George William Curtis, Carl Schurz, and Rutherford B. Hayes. Arthur also dealt with foreign policy matters, including the Panama Canal project, which involved negotiations with countries like France and Colombia, and interactions with leaders such as Justo Rufino Barrios and Porfirio Díaz.

● Policies and Legislation

The Pendleton Civil Service Act was a significant piece of legislation passed during Arthur's presidency, aiming to reduce the influence of patronage in government appointments. This act was supported by notable figures such as James G. Blaine, John Sherman, and Henry Cabot Lodge. Arthur also signed the Tariff Act of 1883, which lowered tariffs on certain goods, and he vetoed the Texas Pacific Railroad bill, which would have provided funding for a transcontinental railroad. His policies were shaped by interactions with prominent individuals, including John Jacob Astor IV, William Randolph Hearst, and Elihu Root, and were influenced by events such as the Haymarket affair and the Great Railroad Strike of 1886.

● Personal Life and Death

Chester A. Arthur married Ellen Herndon Arthur in 1859, and they had two children, William Lewis Herndon Arthur and Chester Alan Arthur Jr.. After his presidency, Arthur returned to New York City, New York, where he practiced law and remained involved in politics, interacting with figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Carnegie. He died on November 18, 1886, at the age of 56, due to complications from Bright's disease, and was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York, near the graves of other notable individuals, including Erastus Corning and Millard Fillmore.

● Historical Reputation

Chester A. Arthur's historical reputation has evolved over time, with some historians viewing him as a weak president who was controlled by party bosses like Roscoe Conkling and Thomas Platt. However, others have reevaluated his presidency, highlighting his efforts on civil service reform and his willingness to challenge the Republican Party establishment, which brought him into conflict with figures like James G. Blaine and John Sherman. Arthur's legacy is also marked by his interactions with notable figures, including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Ida Tarbell, and his impact on events such as the women's suffrage movement and the labor movement. Today, Arthur is remembered as a president who played an important role in shaping the course of American history, particularly in the areas of civil service reform and foreign policy, and his presidency continues to be studied by historians and scholars, including those at institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, and the Library of Congress.