Arthur, Chester Alan (1830–1886)

21st president of the USA 1881–85, a Republican. In 1880 he was chosen as James Garfield's vice-president, and was his successor when Garfield was assassinated the following year.

His administration was marked by measures affecting the tariff, polygamy in Utah, Chinese immigration, the navy, and civil-service reform.

Arthur was born in Fairfield, Vermont, the son of a Baptist minister, and became a lawyer in New York. At the time of the Civil War he was inspector-general and quartermaster-general for the state of New York. He was a Republican Party stalwart and held the office of collector of the port of New York 1871–78. He became president 1881 on Garfield's assassination, but was defeated for renomination by James G Blaine in 1884.