President Garfield dies of assassin's wounds (1881)

President James A. Garfield died on September 19, 1881, in Elberon, New Jersey, from septic shock following a shooting in July. His death triggered the succession of Vice President Chester A. Arthur as the 21st President. The event highlights the medical complications of the assassination and the immediate constitutional transfer of power.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, where he had been scheduled to depart for a summer vacation reported in the Washington newspapers. A long vigil followed, with his doctors issuing regular bulletins that the American public followed closely throughout the summer of 1881. According to Pappas and Joharifard, a septic decline in his condition was visible starting from July 23, 1881.

Death. Garfield died at 10:35 pm on Monday, September 19, 1881, in Elberon, New Jersey. The causes included septic shock, sepsis, bronchial pneumonia, and a ruptured spleen. He died two months before his 50th birthday.

People involved

Sources

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