56 Interesting Facts about James A. Garfield

Dan April 19, 2023

James A. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his assassination on September 19, 1881. Garfield was born on November 19, 1831, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was the last U.S. president to be born in a log cabin, and his parents were poor farmers. Garfield’s father died when he was only 18 months old, and he was raised by his mother and older siblings.

Garfield was a brilliant student, and he was accepted into the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) in Hiram, Ohio, at the age of 16. He later attended Williams College in Massachusetts, where he studied classics and mathematics. After college, Garfield taught at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, where he also became its president. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1859 and served as a Union Army general during the Civil War.

Garfield was elected to Congress in 1862 and served in the House of Representatives for 18 years. He was known for his strong oratory skills and was a leading figure in the Republican Party. Garfield was elected President in 1880, defeating Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock. He was only in office for 200 days before he was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. Garfield died 79 days later from his wounds. Despite his short tenure as President, Garfield made significant strides in civil service reform and advocated for the education of African Americans.

Do you want to know more about James A. Garfield? Let’s take a look at these 56 interesting facts about James A. Garfield.

1. James A. Garfield was the last U.S. president to be born in a log cabin.
2. Garfield was born on November 19, 1831, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
3. His parents were poor farmers.
4. Garfield’s father died when he was only 18 months old, and he was raised by his mother and older siblings.
5. Garfield was a brilliant student, and he was accepted into the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) in Hiram, Ohio, at the age of 16.
6. He later attended Williams College in Massachusetts, where he studied classics and mathematics.
7. Garfield was a strong believer in education and taught at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, where he also became its president.
8. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1859.
9. Garfield served as a Union Army general during the Civil War and was promoted to the rank of major general.
10. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, on July 2, 1881.
11. He died from his wounds on September 19, 1881.
12. Garfield was the first left-handed president.
13. Garfield was fluent in Latin and Greek.
14. He was the first president to have a mother attend his inauguration.
15. Garfield was ambidextrous and could simultaneously write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other.
16. He was also an accomplished musician and could play the violin and piano.
17. Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858, and they had seven children.
18. Garfield was a member of the Disciples of Christ church.
19. Garfield was known for his strong oratory skills and was a leading figure in the Republican Party.
20. Garfield was elected to Congress in 1862 and served in the House of Representatives for 18 years.
21. Garfield was elected President in 1880, defeating Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock.
22. Garfield’s presidency lasted only 200 days, the second-shortest tenure in U.S. history.
23. Despite his short tenure, Garfield made significant strides in civil service reform and advocated for the education of African Americans.
24. Garfield was the first president to campaign in two languages, English and German.
25. Garfield was shot in the back by Guiteau, who was upset about not receiving a government position.
26. The bullet that hit Garfield was not immediately found, which led to infection and ultimately his death.
27. Garfield’s doctors used unsterilized instruments and probed his wound with their fingers, which likely contributed to his death.
28. Garfield’s assassination led to the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which established a merit-based system for federal employment.
29. Garfield’s assassin, Charles J. Guiteau, was a mentally unstable lawyer who believed he was owed a political appointment for his support of Garfield’s campaign.
30. Guiteau was put on trial and found guilty of murder. He was hanged on June 30, 1882.
31. Garfield was buried in Cleveland, Ohio, at Lake View Cemetery.
32. The Garfield Monument, a 180-foot tower, was built in his honor at the cemetery.
33. Garfield’s mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield, outlived him and died in 1888 at the age of 93.
34. Garfield was the first president to use the telegraph to communicate with his campaign managers.
35. Garfield’s campaign manager, William H. Robertson, was also his brother-in-law.
36. Garfield was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C., rather than in New York City, New York.
37. Garfield was an advocate for civil rights and pushed for the repeal of the controversial Chinese Exclusion Act.
38. Garfield was also a strong proponent of education and supported the establishment of land-grant colleges.
39. Garfield was a member of the Freemasons and was initiated in Columbus, Ohio, in 1864.
40. Garfield was the first president to appoint an African American to a high-ranking government position.
41. Garfield was the first president to speak to an audience via telephone, which he did in 1877.
42. Garfield was the first president to have a telephone installed in the White House.
43. Garfield was the first president to visit the West Coast during his presidency.
44. Garfield was the first president to have a pet collie in the White House.
45. Garfield was one of seven presidents to have served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
46. Garfield was the only president to have been a minister (pastor) of the Disciples of Christ Church.
47. Garfield was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity during his time at Williams College.
48. Garfield was one of six presidents to have been a general in the U.S. Army.
49. Garfield’s inauguration was held on March 4, 1881, amid a severe snowstorm that caused the event to be moved indoors.
50. Garfield was an advocate for temperance and supported the Prohibition movement.
51. Garfield was a skilled marksmanship and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
52. Garfield was the first president to have his mother attend his inauguration.
53. Garfield was a supporter of the gold standard and vetoed a bill that would have authorized the use of silver coins.
54. Garfield was the first president to use a presidential yacht, the Despatch, for official business.
55. Garfield’s death led to the creation of the Bureau of Vital Statistics to track public health data in the United States.
56. Garfield was ambidextrous, meaning he was able to write and draw with both hands.

James A. Garfield was a multifaceted individual with a diverse array of achievements and interests. He was a dedicated public servant, a proponent of civil rights, education, and temperance, and a skilled orator and marksman. Despite his relatively short time in office, Garfield’s impact on American politics and society cannot be overstated. His assassination was a tragedy that not only cut short a promising presidency but also led to important advancements in public health and technology. Garfield remains an important figure in American history and a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication, and service.