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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: ARN-AUD |
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ARTHUR, CHESTER ALAN (1830 1886) , twenty - first president of the United States, was born in Fairfield, Vermont, on the 5th of October 1830. His father, William Arthur (17961875), when eighteen years of age, emigrated from Co. Antrim, Ireland, and, after teaching in various places in Vermont and Lower Canada, became a Baptist minister. William Arthur had married Malvina Stone, an American girl who lived at the time of the marriage in Canada, and the numerous changes of the family residence afforded a basis for allegations in 188o that theson Chester was born not in Vermont, but in Canada, and was therefore, ineligible for the presidency. Chester entered Union College as a sophomore, and graduated with honour in 1848. He then became a schoolmaster, at the same time studying law. In 1853 he entered a law office in New York
special
York
chief
Governor Edwin D. Morgan's staff, and afterwards became successively acting quartermaster-general, inspector-general, and quartermaster-general of the state troops, in which capacities he showed much administrative efficiency. At the close of Governor Morgan's term, on the 31st of December 1862, General Arthur resumed the practice of his profession, remaining active, however, in party politics in New York city. In November 1871 he was appointed by President U. S. Grant collector of customs for the port of New York. The custom-house had long been conspicuous for the most flagrant abuses of the " spoils system "; and though General Arthur admitted that the evils existed and that they rendered efficient administration impossible, he made no extensive reforms. In 1877 President Rutherford B. Hayes began the reform of the civil service with the New York custom-house. A non-partisan commission, appointed by Secretary John Sherman, recommended sweeping changes. The president demanded the resignation of Arthur and his two principal subordinates, George H. Sharpe, the surveyor, and Alonzo B. Cornell, the naval officer, of the Port. General Arthur refused to resign on the ground that to retire " under fire " would be to acknowledge wrong-doing, and claimed that as the abuses were inherent in a widespread system he should not be made to bear the responsibility alone. His cause was espoused by Senator Roscoe Conkling, for a time successfully; but on the rrth of July 1878, during a recess of the Senate, the collector was removed, and in January 1879, after another severe struggle, this action received the approval of the Senate. In 188o General Arthur was a delegate at large from New York to the Republican national convention. In common with the rest of the "Stalwarts," he worked hard for the nomination of Gen. U. S. Grant for a third term. Upon the triumph
polygamy in the territories, and the completion of three great trans-continental railwaysthe Southern Pacific, the Northern Pacific, and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. His administration was lacking in political situations of a dramatic character, but on all questions that arose his policy was sane and dignified. In 1884 he allowed his name to be presented for renomination in the Republican convention, but he was easily defeated by the friends of James G. Blaine.At the expiration of his term he resumed his residence in New York city, where he died on the 18th of November 1886. For an account of his administration see UNITED STATES: History. End of Article: ARTHUR, CHESTER ALAN (1830 1886) If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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