Chester Alan Arthur facts for kids

Chester Alan Arthur Facts For Kids -  social studies skills studied in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades.

21st President of the USA

Introduction to Chester Alan Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur served as the 21st President of the United States from the year 1881 to 1885. He became President when his predecessor, James A. Garfield was assassinated. During the Civil War in America, he served as quartermaster general in the New York Militia. The one standout point during his term is the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.
Early life
Born on October 5, 1829 in Fairfield, Vermont, Chester Alan Arthur’s mother was of English descent and his father Irish. His family had migrated to Canada and then moved to America and finally settled in New York after Chester’s birth. His opponents tried to use his parents’ descent and migration against his becoming Vice President trying to falsely claim that he was not born in the United States. However, truth prevailed. Continue reading below>>>

Formal education
He spent his early years in the towns of New York and attended school there. During school days he started supporting the Whig party. Post school education, he joined the Union College, in Schenectady, New York. After graduating, he became a full time teacher in Schenectady and also started preparing for law.
Arthur then moved to New York to be the principal of a school and pursue his law studies under Erastus D. Culver. He was admitted to the bar in 1854 and joined Culver’s firm itself.
Family
Arthur married Ellen Herndon in 1859, post which he pursued his law career and also his military interest in becoming the Judge Advocate General of the Second Brigade of the New York Militia. The couple had 3 children. Post a successful stint in the militia he returned to his law practice at Arthur & Gardiner which ran really well. During this period, however they lost their son (who was at the time their only son) just aged 3. Later they had another son and a daughter.
Career
Arthur joined the Republican Party and slowly started devoting more time to politics than his law practice. In 1871 President Grant offered him post of the Collector of the Port of New York which he accepted. Arthur served as the Chairman of the New York State Republican Executive Committee from the year 1879 to 1881.In the 1880 election James A. Garfield was elected as the President with Arthur being his Vice President. In July 1881, President Garfield was shot and for a period of two months till he died there seemed a void. But on his death, Arthur was sworn in and took over as the 21st President of the United States.
By then Arthur had lost his wife in 1880 and so his sister Mary Arthur McElroy served as the official White House hostess. Though Arthur wanted to run for a re-election in 1884, he realized that he did not have the necessary support and his health was suffering.
Retired life
In 1885, post his Presidency, he retired to practice law again. He died on November 18, 1886 due to a cerebral hemorrhage. The most notable memorial to President Arthur is the 15 foot Arthur memorial statue installed at Madison Square, New York.