CHESTER A ARTHUR 1829 1886 TWENTY FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARTHUR CHESTER A 1829 1886 U.S GOV'T EXECUTIVE U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION CHESTER ARTHUR BORN IN FAIRFIELD VERMONT CHESTER A ARTHUR ATTENDED SCHOOL IN NEW YORK AND BEGAN PRACTICING LAW IN 1854 HE SOON BECAME THE HEAD OF A PROMINENT LAW FIRM AND LATER BECAME LEADER OF THE NEW YORK REPUBLICAN PARTY IN 1871 ARTHUR WAS APPOINTED CUSTOMS COLLECTOR FOR THE PORT OF NEW YORK HE HELD THAT POSITION UNTIL 1879 ELECTED AS A REPUBLICAN ARTHUR BECAME VICE PRESIDENT IN 1881 HE ASSUMED THE PRESIDENCY LATER THAT YEAR AFTER PRESIDENT JAMES GARFIELD WAS ASSASSINATED PRESIDENT ARTHUR SUPPORTED THE PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT WHICH ESTABLISHED MERIT AS THE MAIN FACTOR IN OBTAINING MOST FEDERAL JOBS SOME REPUBLICAN PARTY STALWARTS REFUSED TO SUPPORT HIS BID FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN 1884 ARTHUR RETIRED TO NEW YORK CITY WHERE HE DIED IN 1886
