On this date, President James A. Garfield was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker.
Garfield was struck twice, once in the arm and once in the back. Despite efforts to treat him, medical practices at the time were inadequate, and he suffered for 79 days before succumbing to infections and complications on September 19, 1881.
His assassination led to major reforms in the U.S. civil service system, including the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, which aimed to curb political patronage in government hiring.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
Loading...