Born: 5 October 1829 · Died: 18 November 1886 · Age at death: 57
How old was Chester A. Arthur when he died?
Chester A. Arthur died aged 57. He was born on 5 October 1829 and died on 18 November 1886.
21st US President who took office after James Garfield's assassination and backed reform of the civil service
Did you know?He was known for his elegant style and reportedly owned dozens of pairs of trousers, frequently changing his outfit multiple times a day.
Quick facts
Date of birth5 October 1829
Date of death18 November 1886
Age at death57
Cause of deathStroke
NationalityAmerican
BirthplaceFairfield, United States
Occupationmilitary officer, lawyer, politician
Editor's Take:
Chester A. Arthur surprised almost everyone. As collector of the Port of New York he was seen as a loyal party machine man. He became vice-president and then president when James Garfield was assassinated in 1881. Many expected the worst. Instead he signed the Pendleton Act, which began a merit-based civil service. He also helped modernise the US Navy. He quietly suffered from a fatal kidney disease while in office.
Key Milestones
1871: Custom House – New York collector
1881: Vice president – under Garfield
1881: President after assassination
1883: Pendleton Act – civil service reform
Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was the 21st president of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. A Republican from New York, he served as the 20th vice president under President James A. Garfield in 1881, assuming the presidency after Garfield's assassination.
