Chester A. Arthur

Chester A. Arthur – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and legacy of Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886), 21st President of the United States. Learn his early years, political rise, major achievements, enduring influence, and memorable quotes in this definitive biography.

Introduction

Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) served as the 21st president of the United States from 1881 to 1885, ascending to the office after the assassination of President James A. Garfield. Though his presidency is often overshadowed by more flamboyant or transformative figures, Arthur’s tenure was marked by important reforms—especially in civil service—and by a personal evolution from political insider to a more principled executive. His life exemplifies both the opportunities and contradictions of Gilded Age American politics.

Arthur is remembered as a figure who surprised many of his contemporaries by supporting reforms that lessened the grip of patronage and corruption, while also navigating the pressures and constraints of his era. This article delves deeply into his life, career, personality, and the lessons that emerge from his example.

Early Life and Family

Chester Alan Arthur was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont, to William Arthur and Malvina Stone.

• His father, William Arthur, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated to North America. He served as a Baptist minister and educator.

• His mother, Malvina Stone, was of Vermont birth and literate; the family valued education and piety.

Though born in Vermont, Arthur spent significant parts of his youth in New York State, moving across small towns such as York, Perry, Greenwich, Lansingburgh, Schenectady, and Hoosick.

From early childhood, Arthur was described by teachers as “frank and open in manners and genial in disposition.”

His upbringing exposed him to modest circumstances, religious discipline, and the sense that advancement would rely on diligence and intellect.

Youth and Education

Arthur’s formal schooling included grammar and local academies. One of his early teachers later recalled his affability and good nature.

In 1845, he entered Union College in Schenectady, New York.

• At Union College, Arthur engaged in the classical curriculum and was active in debate societies.

• He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his senior year.

After graduating in 1848, Arthur worked as a schoolteacher, particularly during winter breaks, while preparing to enter the legal profession.

He later studied law at the State and National Law School in Ballston Spa, New York, and then “read law” in New York City in the firm of Erastus D. Culver. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1854 and joined Culver’s firm (which became Culver, Parker & Arthur) in practice.

Arthur early on took part in civil rights litigation. Notably, in 1854 he represented Elizabeth Jennings Graham, a Black woman forcibly removed from a New York streetcar, and prevailed. This litigation helped precipitate the desegregation of NYC streetcar lines.

Though his role in some high-profile legal cases (e.g. Lemmon v. New York) was later inflated by biographers and political gloss, he did contribute as a junior member of the team.

On the personal front, Arthur married Ellen “Nell” Lewis Herndon on October 25, 1859. They had children, though tragedy struck: their first child, William, died at age two. Later they had Chester Alan Jr. (born 1864) and Ellen (born 1871). Arthur’s wife died in January 1880 (before he became president).

Arthur never remarried. While in the White House, his sister and other relatives often handled social duties.

Career and Achievements

Early Political and Legal Career

Arthur’s legal work and local political involvement in New York brought him into contact with powerful Republican networks. He became associated with the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party, led by Senator Roscoe Conkling.

In 1861, Arthur entered military service in the New York Militia, where he held roles such as Engineer-in-Chief and Quartermaster General. He served during the Civil War period, though he was never in the high-level combat theaters.

After the Civil War, Arthur concentrated on legal practice and Republican party activity. He aligned strongly with Conkling’s machine, and political appointments followed.

In 1871, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Arthur Collector of the Port of New York, one of the richest and most politically significant patronage offices. This position placed him at the heart of the “spoils system” and patronage politics.

In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes removed Arthur (along with other Conkling allies) from the collector’s office as part of an effort to curb patronage abuses.

Rise to the Vice Presidency and Presidency

In the 1880 Republican National Convention, factional divisions between the Stalwarts (led by Conkling and support for Ulysses Grant) and the “Half-Breeds” (moderates) led to compromise. James A. Garfield was chosen as presidential candidate, and Arthur, as a Stalwart, was selected as his running mate to balance the ticket.

Garfield and Arthur won the election, and Arthur became Vice President on March 4, 1881.

However, Garfield was shot just months later and died after lingering complications. On September 19, 1881, Arthur succeeded to the presidency. Arthur retook the oath in Washington to avoid questions about legal validity of a prior oath.

Arthur’s presidency (1881–1885) has often been judged as more moderate and reform-minded than many had expected.

Civil Service Reform & The Pendleton Act

One of Arthur’s landmark achievements was supporting civil service reform. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (1883) established a federal commission and made certain government jobs subject to merit-based examinations rather than purely political patronage.

Though Arthur was once a beneficiary of patronage politics, he surprised many by signing and enforcing this law.

He also oversaw the establishment of the Civil Service Commission.

Navy Expansion & National Defense

Under Arthur, the United States began modernizing and expanding its Navy. He supported building modern warships, which later contributed to the shift toward American projection of sea power. Because of this effort, some historians bracket him as a forerunner of the later naval buildup.

Immigration, Tariffs, and Foreign Policy

Arthur vetoed an early version of the Chinese Exclusion Act that he felt overstepped treaty bounds but ultimately signed a later, more limited version. He also enforced the Immigration Act of 1882, which imposed more restrictive entry controls.

On tariff policy, the federal government had accrued large surpluses. Arthur endorsed simplification and moderation of tariffs and proposed abolishing excise taxes except on liquor. A tariff commission was formed, which surprised many by recommending substantial reductions.

In foreign relations, Arthur continued earlier Republican efforts toward hemispheric diplomacy, supporting reciprocal treaties in Latin America.

Judicial Appointments

Arthur successfully appointed two Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court: Horace Gray and Samuel Blatchford. He first offered a position to Roscoe Conkling (which Conkling declined) before settling on Blatchford.

Later Years in Office and Decline

Arthur’s health was always frail, and he made only modest efforts to cultivate support for another term in 1884. He declined to actively campaign by mid-1884 and ultimately did not secure the Republican nomination. He left office on March 4, 1885, and returned to New York.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Arthur became president in a period of intense factionalism within the Republican Party, divided primarily between Stalwarts and reformers (Half-Breeds). His presidency represented a bridging figure between machine politics and some degree of reform.

• The Gilded Age was characterized by rapid industrial growth, economic inequality, rampant political patronage, and increasing calls for government reform. Arthur's presidency fell squarely in that era, and his support for civil service reform was a response to widespread public dissatisfaction with corruption.

• The United States was beginning to think more ambitiously on the international stage, and Arthur’s naval initiatives foreshadowed the country’s eventual rise as a maritime power.

• Arthur’s presidency also coincided with debates over immigration, especially from Asia, which led to tensions between populist nativist impulses and treaty obligations. His veto and later signing of Chinese exclusion legislation reflect the tensions of that time.

• While Arthur did not preside over any major wars or great crises, his term is often judged by how he handled continuity, reform, and the transition of power in a tumultuous political environment.

Legacy and Influence

Arthur’s legacy is mixed and often underrated. He has sometimes been ranked among the more obscure presidents, overshadowed by more dynamic or controversial figures.

Yet, several features of his presidency endure:

• The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act laid the foundation for the merit-based federal bureaucracy that still operates today.

• His naval modernization efforts helped catalyze longer-term shifts in U.S. sea power.

• Arthur’s transformation—from a product of machine patronage to a president who embraced reform—is often cited as a model of political maturation and integrity under pressure.

• Though not broadly acclaimed historically, modern scholarship tends to place him as a more respectable and effective president than earlier critics did.

• Arthur is sometimes called the “Father of the American Navy” for his naval modernization efforts in his term.

His administration is a reminder that even presidents without dramatic events can effect lasting structural change through steadiness and timely decisions.

Personality and Talents

Arthur was physically imposing—tall, dignified, and handsome, with sideburns and a clean-shaven chin.

Contemporaries praised his social grace, eloquence, and refinement.

Though earlier in his career he operated within patronage machinery and was viewed as a political insider, Arthur is thought to have grown into a more independent and principled leader once in office.

Health was a recurring challenge. In later years, Arthur’s physical condition deteriorated, limiting his post-presidential activity.

He was private by nature: as one purported quote puts it, “I may be President of the United States, but my private life is nobody’s damned business.”

Arthur’s evolution—from a trusted party man to a president who broke somewhat with party strictures—suggests flexibility, maturity, and a capacity for redefinition under pressure.

Famous Quotes of Chester A. Arthur

Here are some of Arthur’s more memorable and revealing statements (along with context and meaning):

“There are very many characteristics which go into making a model civil servant. Prominent among them are probity, industry, good sense, good habits, good temper, patience, order, courtesy, tact, self-reliance, deference to superior officers, and consideration for inferiors.”
From his First Annual Message (1881), where he outlines what qualities he expects in a reformed civil service.

“The health of the people is of supreme importance. All measures looking to their protection against the spread of contagious diseases … deserve attention of Congress.”
Arthur emphasized public health responsibility.

“Honors to me now are not what they once were.”
A modest reflection, possibly uttered in later life.

“Men may die, but the fabric of our free institutions remains unshaken.”
From Wikiquote, a statement expressing faith in the resilience of republican governance.

“The countries of the American continent and the adjacent islands are for the United States the natural marts of supply and demand.”
A view of U.S. economic influence in the Western Hemisphere.

“Well, there doesn’t seem anything else for an ex-President to do but to go into the country and raise big pumpkins.”
A wry comment made upon the death of President Garfield, reflecting Arthur’s self-deprecating humor.

These quotes reveal a man concerned with principle, public duty, and balanced governance.

Lessons from Chester A. Arthur

1. Change is possible, even from within
   Arthur began his career steeped in patronage politics, yet as president he championed civil service reform. His personal transformation underscores that individuals deeply embedded in an old system can still become agents of change.

2. Steadiness in leadership matters
   Although Arthur lacked dramatic flair, his presidency was marked by careful judgment, institutional strengthening, and reliance on law over impulse. That kind of measured governance matters, especially in transitional times.

3. Institutional integrity endures
   Arthur’s famous line, “Men may die, but the fabric of our free institutions remains unshaken,” reminds us that constitutional structures and public trust outlast individual actors. Good governance strengthens those institutions.

4. Public service demands both principle and pragmatism
   In immigration, tariffs, and other contested realms, Arthur had to balance moral, legal, and political pressures. His approach suggests that leadership often lies in making the difficult trade-offs consistent with core values.

5. Humility and self-awareness have value
   His comment on being an ex-President raising pumpkins hints at modesty and a sense of humor. Leaders who stay grounded—even at the height of power—often retain more of their credibility.

Conclusion

Chester A. Arthur’s presidency may not rival those of Lincoln or Franklin Roosevelt in dramatic sweep, but his term was no afterthought. He assumed power under tragic circumstances, navigated factional pressures, and left a mark through reform and institutional strengthening. His ability to shift from partisan loyalist to reformer, his commitment to civil service integrity, and his vision of governance grounded in both principle and restraint deserve remembrance.

In today’s political climate—where reform, ethics, and institutional trust are urgent concerns—Arthur’s example offers valuable perspectives: that people can grow, that systems matter, and that legacy is often built in steady increments rather than sweeping grand gestures.

Explore more on his life, read his speeches and messages, and reflect on how his journey might inform contemporary leadership and public service.