Profile of the Day: James Garfield

On November 19, 1831, James Garfield was born in a log cabin in Orange Township, Ohio. Garfield served as the 20th President of the United States.

Image: James Garfield / Library of Congress

Garfield had come from very humble beginnings. His father, Abram Garfield, was a wrestler and died when Garfield was just 18 months old. He was raised by his mother, Eliza Ballou, who also continued to run the family’s small farm in Ohio.

In 1881, Garfield was elected the 20th President of the United States after serving 9 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, his presidency would last just 200 days. He was shot by an assassin on July 2, 1881. Doctors were unable to locate the bullet and he eventually died from infection and internal hemorrhage on September 19, 1881. Garfield holds the distinction of being the second of four U.S. Presidents who were assassinated.

Explore James Garfield’s family tree on Geni to see how you’re connected to the 20th President of the United States.