Chester A. Arthur — 21st President of the United States
21st President of the United States, Republican
Chester A. Arthur
Term: Sep 19, 1881 – Mar 4, 1885
Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886) was the twenty-first president of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885 after the death of James A. Garfield. Before becoming vice president he had been a prominent figure in the New York Republican machine and collector of the Port of New York, a patronage-heavy post from which President Hayes had removed him. As president he surprised many supporters of the spoils system by signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which established merit-based examinations for federal positions and created the Civil Service Commission.
“It is certain that much relief may be afforded, not only to the President and to the heads of the Departments, but to Senators and Representatives in Congress, by discreet legislation.”