James Abram Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his death on September 19, 1881. A member of the Republican Party, Garfield was previously a U.S. Representative from Ohio, where he served from 1863 until 1880. His presidency was marked by efforts to reform the civil service and address issues related to the economy and education. Garfield's time in office was tragically cut short when he was assassinated just a few months into his term.