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Arthur, Chester Allan

twentyfirst president of the United States, was born Oct. 5, 1830, in Fairfield, Vt. He graduated at Union college, Schenectady, N. Y., 1849; taught school and was principal of the Pownal academy, Vermont.

Studied law and was admitted to the bar, and was married to Miss Herndon. He was a delegate to the Saratoga convention when the republican party of New York was formed. Was judge-advocate of the second brigade of state militia before we war. In 1860 Governor Edwin D. Morgan appointed him engineer-inchief on his staff and afterwards inspector-general and quartermaster-general, holding the latter office until the close of 1863. He practiced law in New York city until Nov. 20, 1871, when he was appointed collector of customs at that port, and reappointed in 1875. In 1877 he was chairman of the republican central committee of New York city, when President Hayes issued his order forbidding officers in the civil service from acting as political managers. Mr. Arthur neglected to comply with this order and was removed by the president in July, 1878. He was a delegate to the Chicago convention in 1880, and a strong supporter of General Grant. He was nominated for vice-president on the first ballot, which stood for Chester A. Arthur, 468; E. B. Washburne, Illinois, 193; Marshall Jewell, Connecticut, 44; Horace Maynard, Tennessee, 30; B. K. Bruce, Mississippi, 8; J. L. Alcorn, Mississippi, 4; E. J.

Davis, Texas, 2; Thomas Settle, North Carolina, 1; Stewart L. Woodford, New York, 1. Being elected he took the oath of office and became vice-president March 4, 1881. On being notified by the cabinet of the death of President Garfield, he took the oath of office as president at his own house in New York city, on Sept. 20, 1881, at two o'clock in the morning. On reaching Washington, Sept. 22, he again took the oath of office before Chief Justice Waite. The republican national convention met at Chicago, June 3, 1884. Those receiving the highest number of votes on the first ballot were James G. Blaine, 3341/2, and Chester A. Arthur, 278. On the fourth ballot Mr. Blaine was nominated. General Arthur retired from the presidency March 4, 1885, and died Nov. 18, 1886, in New York city.