Garfield (1831-1881) served with distinction in the Union Army during the Civil War. He left the army on his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1863. He was later nominated as the Republican candidate for the Presidency in 1880 and won (by only 10,000 votes) over Civil War General Winfield Scott Hancock. He had to resign his position as a member of the House, to which he had been re-elected in the same election.

Sworn into office in March 1881, he immediately began handing out government positions to supporters. An unsuccessful patronage seeker, Charles Guiteau, shot Garfield in the back in July 1881. Garfield lingered for 79 days before dying. His Vice President, Charles A. Athur (who first met Garifled after their election) was sworn in as president.

Garfield was assassinated on the grounds of the old Baltimore & Pacific Railway depot, now occupied by the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art. The site is easily seen from Garfield's statue.