[150] As a result, the lame-duck session of Congress was more amenable to civil service reform; the Senate approved Pendleton's bill 385 and the House soon concurred by a vote of 15547. Worst Presidents: Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885) Arthur is one of only a handful of American leaders who did not win a presidential election at the top of his party's ticket. The Senate ratifies the Geneva Convention of 1864 for the care of wounded war personnel. The court renders a verdict in the second Star-Route case. 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. When the War broke out in 1861 the Governor. [147] After a juror came forward with allegations that the defendants attempted to bribe him, the judge set aside the guilty verdicts and granted a new trial. [66] Arthur had a better reputation than Murphy, but reformers still criticized the patronage structure and the moiety system as corrupt. 4, 1885 Political Party Republican Party (1854-1886), Whig Party (Before 1856) Personal Info Born Oct. 5, 1829 Died Nov. 18, 1886 (at age 57) Religion Episcopal School Union College State and National Law School Profession [156] After conference with the Senate, the bill that emerged only reduced tariffs by an average of 1.47%. Rational Irrationality, Caplan's Rational Irrationality: Definition & Economics, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Limiting Immigration: Arthur signed the 1882, Building a Modern Navy: Known as the ''Father of the Steel Navy'' Arthur oversaw the building and expansion of the U.S. Navy, including the establishment of the. [118] Hancock did not help his own cause when, in an attempt to remain neutral on the tariff, he said that "[t]he tariff question is a local question", which only made him appear uninformed about an important issue. [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. Arthur, a Republican, had been vice president for 199 days when he succeeded to the presidency. [52] He also turned down command of four New York City regiments organized as the Metropolitan Brigade, again at Morgan's request. [73] Arthur's salary was initially $6,500, but senior customs employees were compensated additionally by the "moiety" system, which awarded them a percentage of the cargoes seized and fines levied on importers who attempted to evade the tariff. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. General Chester Arthur's Civil War ended effective January 1, 1863. [37], After graduating in 1848, Arthur returned to Schaghticoke and became a full-time teacher, and soon began to pursue an education in law. Following a funeral in Manhattan, the former president was buried beside his wife in the Arthur family plot in the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York. [218], Arthur's unpopularity in life carried over into his assessment by historians and his reputation after leaving office disappeared. Republicans were pleased with the committee's make-up but were surprised when, in December 1882, they submitted a report to Congress calling for tariff cuts averaging between 20 and 25%. President Arthur signed the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, one of the most consequential pieces of immigration legislation in United States History. "[221] As 2004 biographer Zachary Karabell wrote, although Arthur was "physically stretched and emotionally strained, he strove to do what was right for the country. [39] While studying law, he continued teaching, moving closer to home by taking a job at a school in North Pownal, Vermont. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! His dad was the minister in Waterville and was building . Typically, these jobs were dispensed to adherents of the political machine responsible for appointing the Collector. A skilled fisherman [10], The Arthurs moved to Vermont after the birth of their first child, Regina. Arthur practiced law in New York City. [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. Arthur was unable to convince Congress to adopt the idea during his administration but, in 1887, the Dawes Act changed the law to favor such a system. [55], Arthur returned to practicing law, and with the help of additional contacts made in the military, he and the firm of Arthur & Gardiner flourished. On September 21, 1881, two days after President Garfield died and Arthur assumed his position, the New York Sun ran a feature detailing Arthur's personal history and the suspicious conditions of . The act is designed to ban companies from importing immigrant workers to break strikes and drive down wages. [49] The office was a patronage appointment of minor importance until the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, when New York and the other northern states were faced with raising and equipping armies of a size never before seen in American history. [209], Arthur's post-presidency was the second-shortest of all presidents who lived past their presidencies, after that of James K. Polk who died just three months after leaving office. Major events during the Arthur administration included, civil service reform, an effort to combat postal fraud, unsuccessful tries at meaningful tariff reform and wasteful spending. [204] His health limited his activity with the firm, and Arthur served only of counsel. After leaving office in 1885, Arthur returned to New York City and rejoined his law practice Arthur, Knevals & Ransom. Ten fun facts about Chester A. Arthur. Arthur succeeded the presidency upon Garfield's death in September 1881two months after being shot by an assassin. [193] Later that year, on the advice of Missouri Senator George Graham Vest, he visited Yellowstone National Park. Chester Alan Arthur was born October 5, 1830, in Fairfield, Vermont. Arthur vetoes the first Chinese Exclusion Act, which would have banned the immigration of Chinese laborers for twenty years and denied American citizenship to current Chinese residents; the veto greatly angers labor groups, who feel increasingly threatened by the influx of Chinese labor. [77] In total, his income came to more than $50,000more than the president's salary, and more than enough for him to enjoy fashionable clothes and a lavish lifestyle. Chester, or Chet, as he was known, attended Union College in Schenectady, New York. [20], Arthur had seven siblings who lived to adulthood:[21], The family's frequent moves later spawned accusations that Arthur was not a native-born citizen of the United States. Still, the crowd of people who showed up for the event were unaware, and the President received a spectacular welcome. Chester A. Arthur, former machine politician, became a reformer in the Presidency. [182] He followed the same pattern in other Southern states, forging coalitions with independents and Greenback Party members. [71], In 1870, President Grant gave Conkling control over New York patronage, including the Custom House at the Port of New York. Previously the 20th vice president,. Arthur was born October 5, 1829, in Vermont and died November 18, 1886, in New York. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, Physician keeps Presidents disease secret, Proclamation against settlement in Oklahoma, Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity. The United States and Mexico conclude a convention on their shared territorial boundary. [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. It was widely evaded. [10], Arthur's father, William Arthur, was born in 1796 in Dreen, Cullybackey, County Antrim, Ireland to a Presbyterian family of Scots-Irish descent. He previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A. Garfield. [74] Grant offered the position to John Augustus Griswold and William Orton, each of whom declined and recommended Arthur. Blaine was defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) in the general election. Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 - November 18, 1886) was the fourth Totally Obscure President of the United States, serving from 1881 through 1885. [135], Arthur arrived in Washington, D.C. on September 21. "[5] Mark Twain wrote of him, "It would be hard indeed to better President Arthur's administration. Portrait of Chester Arthur, vice president to James Garfield. [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. As president from 1881 to 1885, Arthur advocated for civil service reform. "[4] [146] An 1882 trial of the ringleaders resulted in convictions for two minor conspirators and a hung jury for the rest. A chronology of key events in the life of Chester Alan Arthur (1829-1886), twenty-first president of the Unites States. [142] Despite Arthur's personal appeal to remain, MacVeagh resigned in December 1881 and Arthur replaced him with Benjamin H. Brewster, a Philadelphia lawyer and machine politician reputed to have reformist leanings. It is estimated that more than twenty men were killed during the construction of the bridge, although records are debatable. In 1859, Arthur married Ellen Nell Lewis Herndon (1837-1880), the Virginia-born daughter of a U.S. naval officer. As president from 1881 to 1885, Arthur advocated for civil service reform. He was a member of the ultra exclusive Restigouche Salmon Club. On graduation, he went on to study law. Arthur formally takes the oath of office in Washington, DC. 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