21st President of the United States
Chester A. Arthur
“Elegant Arthur”
- In office
- Sept. 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885
- Party
- Republican
- Home state
- New York
- Lived
- 1829–1886
- Days in office
- 1,262
- In order
- No. 21: after James A. Garfield, before Grover Cleveland
- Vice president
- None
Key achievements & events
- Signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (1883), creating merit-based federal hiring
- Began building the modern steel Navy
- Signed the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
Remember: Once a product of New York's patronage machine, he surprised critics by becoming a reformer. He reportedly owned 80 pairs of pants.