Arthur, CHESTER ALAN

Arthur, CHESTER ALAN, twenty-first president of the United States, was born at Fairfield, in Franklin County, Vermont, on the 5th October 1830. His father was the Rev. W. Arthur, D.D., a Baptist minister, and a native of the north of Ireland. He distinguished himself as a student at Union College, New York; and devoting himself to law studies, was admitted to the bar in 1853. After having practised for some years, he was made a judge-advocate; at the outbreak of the great civil war he held the post of Inspector-general; and during the war was Quartermaster-general for the New York forces. He subsequently returned to law practice, and became the head of a very eminent law firm. Arthur took a prominent share in politics, on the Republican side; and in 1871 President Grant appointed him Collector of Customs at the port of New York. As being hostile to the reform in the civil service aimed at by President Hayes, he was removed from this post in 1878, and again returned to the practice of law. He was a leader of the Republican party in the State; and though belonging to the section of the Republicans opposed on the question of civil service reform to that represented by General Garfield, was made vice-president of the United States when Garfield became president in 1881. The death of Garfield, caused by the effects of an assassin's pistol-shot, called the vice-president to the supreme magistracy of the union; and Arthur was installed as president on the 22d September 1881, and held the office till 4th March 1885, when he was succeeded by Grover Cleveland, who had been the Democratic candidate. During his term of office two important measures were passed by congress in 1882—a bill dealing with the Mormon question, and declaring polygamy illegal, and the other dealing with the Chinese question. A tariff bill with Protectionist bearings was passed in 1883. He was neither a great nor a brilliant president, but he was practical, business-like, and honourable in the fulfilment of his duties. He died November 18, 1886.