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Chester Alan Arthur 1829 - 1886

Chester Alan Arthur of 123 Lexington Ave, in New York, New York County, New York United States was born on October 5, 1829 in Fairfield, VT, and died at age 57 years old on November 18, 1886 in New York, NY. Chester Arthur was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery 3 Cemetery Ave, in Albany, Albany County.

Chester Alan Arthur

Chester A. Arthur

123 Lexington Ave, in New York, New York County, New York 10016, United States

October 5, 1829

Fairfield, Vermont, United States

November 18, 1886

New York, New York, United States

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Chester Alan Arthur Chester Arthur (1829 - 1886)

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Chester Alan Arthur's History: 1829 - 1886

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Introduction

Chester Alan Arthur (1829 - 1886) was the 21st President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont, to William Arthur and Malvina Stone Arthur. Chester was the fifth child of William and Malvina, and he had four siblings: two brothers, William and Orville, and two sisters, Malvina and Eliza. Chester Arthur's family lived modestly, and his father was a Baptist minister who struggled to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, Arthur was a bright and ambitious young man who worked hard to achieve success in his career. He went on to attend Union College in Schenectady, New York, and later became a successful lawyer and politician, serving as Collector of the Port of New York and later as Vice President of the United States under James Abram Garfield. Arthur is known for his efforts to reform the civil service and for his commitment to national unity and progress.
10/5

1829

Birthday

October 5, 1829

Birthdate

Fairfield, Vermont United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Chester A. Arthur's ancestry can be traced back to his great-grandfather, Alexander Arthur, who emigrated from County Antrim, Ireland, to the United States in the early 1700s. Alexander Arthur settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and his descendants would go on to play important roles in American history. Chester Arthur's grandfather, also named Chester Alan Arthur, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a successful farmer and landowner in Vermont. Chester's father, William Arthur, was born in Ireland but immigrated to the United States as a child. William Arthur went on to become a Baptist minister and a prominent abolitionist, and he was involved in various social and political causes throughout his life. Chester was born into this family of committed patriots, abolitionists, and social activists, and he inherited their commitment to public service and social reform. Arthur himself was an active supporter of the abolitionist movement and was involved in various civil rights causes throughout his career. In terms of genealogy, Chester Arthur married Ellen Lewis Herndon in 1859, but she died of pneumonia just a year before he became president. They had three children together: William Lewis Herndon Arthur, Chester Alan Arthur Jr., and Ellen Herndon Arthur. After Ellen's death, Arthur never remarried, and his daughter Ellen acted as First Lady during his presidency.
Nationality & Locations

Chester Arthur was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont. He spent his childhood in several locations, as his father, a Baptist minister, frequently moved the family in search of better job opportunities. The family lived in Vermont, New York, and later, when Arthur was a teenager, in Union Village, New York, where he attended the local academy. As an adult, Chester Arthur lived primarily in New York City, where he worked as a lawyer and became involved in politics. He also spent time in Washington, D.C., while serving as Collector of the Port of New York and later as Vice President under James A. Garfield. After his presidency, Arthur returned to New York City, where he lived until his death in 1886.
Early Life & Education

His early education was mostly informal and received at home. Chester learned to read and write under the guidance of his mother, who was an avid reader and a former teacher. At the age of 14, he attended a school in Union Village, New York, where he excelled in his studies. In 1845, Arthur began his college education at Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he studied for two years before transferring to the State and National Law School in Ballston Spa, New York. He completed his law degree there in 1852. After completing his formal education, Arthur went on to become a successful lawyer and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He worked for several years as a law clerk in New York City, and in 1860, he formed a law partnership with a friend, Henry D. Gardiner. Arthur also became involved in politics, serving as an officer in the New York State Militia and as a member of the Republican Party. Throughout his life, Arthur remained committed to education and was an advocate for improving educational opportunities for all Americans. He supported the creation of public schools and worked to expand access to higher education.
Religious Beliefs

Chester was raised in a Baptist household and attended Baptist churches throughout his childhood. It is not clear if he was baptized, as records of his baptism have not been found. As an adult, Arthur did not attend church regularly and did not publicly discuss his religious beliefs. However, he was known to be a man of integrity and morality, and he often quoted the Bible in his speeches and writings. In his inaugural address, Arthur stated, "I recognize the place assigned to the Christian religion in the history of this country and the power of a sincere faith to sustain a nation in its hour of trial." Overall, while Arthur's personal religious beliefs may not have been widely known, he respected the role of religion in American society and acknowledged its importance in shaping the nation's history and values.
Military Service

He did not serve in the military. During the Civil War, Chester was appointed by Governor Edwin D. Morgan of New York to serve as Quartermaster General of the state militia. In this role, he was responsible for procuring and distributing supplies to Union troops in the state of New York, but he did not see active combat. It is worth noting that during Arthur's time, military service was not a prerequisite for holding political office. Nonetheless, Arthur was praised for his leadership and efficiency in his role as Quartermaster General and for his support of the Union cause during the Civil War.
Professional Career

Chester A. Arthur had a varied career that included law, politics, and government service. After completing his law degree in 1852, he worked as a law clerk for several years before forming a law partnership with a friend, Henry D. Gardiner. Arthur became involved in politics and served as an officer in the New York State Militia and as a member of the Republican Party. In 1871, Arthur was appointed Collector of the Port of New York, a position he held until 1878. He used his position to modernize and reform the customs service, earning praise for his efficient management of the office. In 1880, he was nominated for Vice President on the Republican ticket with James A. Garfield, and they won the election. After Garfield's assassination in 1881, Arthur became President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. As President, he worked to reform the civil service and signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act into law. He also supported efforts to improve the navy and signed the Naval Appropriations Act of 1883, which authorized the construction of new ships. After leaving the presidency, Arthur returned to his law practice in New York City. He remained active in politics, supporting Grover Cleveland in the 1888 presidential election. Arthur also served as president of the New York City Board of Education and was involved in various civic and charitable organizations.
Personal Life & Family

Chester Arthur's parents were William Arthur, a Baptist minister, and Malvina Stone Arthur. He had three siblings: an older brother named William, a younger brother named Frederick, and a younger sister named Mary. Arthur married Ellen Lewis Herndon in 1859, and they had three children together: a son named William, who died in infancy, and two daughters, named Nell and Chester. Ellen Arthur was an invalid for much of her life and died of pneumonia in 1880, before Arthur became President. Arthur's close friends included Roscoe Conkling, a powerful Republican senator from New York, and Louis Comfort Tiffany, a prominent artist and designer who created the stained-glass windows for Arthur's New York City mansion. In terms of political relationships, Arthur was closely associated with the Republican Party and was a member of the Stalwart faction, which supported the patronage system and opposed civil service reform. He had a contentious relationship with President James Garfield, who was a member of the opposing Half-Breed faction, but the two eventually reconciled before Garfield's assassination. After becoming President, Arthur faced criticism from members of his own party who accused him of betraying the Stalwart cause by supporting civil service reform. Nonetheless, he remained popular with many Democrats and independents, who appreciated his efforts to modernize and professionalize the federal government.
11/18

1886

Death

November 18, 1886

Death date

complications of a kidney disease.

Cause of death

New York, New York United States
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Albany Rural Cemetery 3 Cemetery Ave, in Albany, Albany County, New York 12204, United States
Burial location
Obituary

An excerpt from a New York Times article published on November 19, 1886, the day after Arthur's death: "Chester Alan Arthur, twenty-first President of the United States, died at his residence in this city at 5:20 o'clock yesterday morning. The news of his death will cause a shock of surprise and regret throughout the country, for while it had been known for some time that his health was impaired, the gravity of his illness was not fully realized. ... Mr. Arthur was a man of sterling integrity, and of high sense of honor. He was naturally of a retiring disposition, and always shrank from display, but in the discharge of his public duties he was brave and self-reliant. His administration of the Presidential office was marked by sound judgment and statesmanlike foresight. ... In his private life, Mr. Arthur was most exemplary. He was a man of simple tastes and habits, and was devoted to his family."

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