10 Interesting Facts about Chester A. Arthur

These following facts about Chester A. Arthur will probably make you feel admired about him. If you want to know what kind of person he was during his life, or what activity he did, or anything else, then this article would be really interesting for you to read. Chester A. Arthur was ther 21st President of the United States. He suceedeed James Garfield upon the latter’s assassination. At the outset, Arthur struggled to overcome his reputation, stemming from his beginnings in politics as a politician from the New York City Republican political machine. To get to know more about him, here are the other facts about Chester A. Arthur you may consider interesting.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 1: White House Furniture Auctioned

After Garfield’s death, Arthur did not immediately move into the White House. He insisted it be redecorated and had twenty-four wagonloads of furniture hauled off and sold at public auction. The pieces included some dating back to John Adams’ term and would be considered priceless today.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 2: No Vice President

Arthur briefly served as President Garfield’s Vice President. After Garfield’s death, Arthur became President leaving the Vice President’s office vacant.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 3: Destroying Records

After spending the summer in Connecticut, Arthur returned home very ill. On November 16, 1886, he ordered the burning of nearly all his personal and official papers. He died two days later as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 4: No Inaugural Address

President Arthur made no Inaugural Address.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 5: Questionable Citizenship

Political opponents of Arthur questioned his citizenship and alleged he was born in Canada, making him ineligible to serve as President because he was not a natural-born citizen. However, some argue that even if born in Canada, this point was meaningless since his mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth. Arthur denied the allegations and continued on with his term.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 6: First Oath in a President’s Home

Arthur was the first president to take the Oath of Office in his own home. He actually took the oath twice. The first time was at his personal residence in New York City where it was given to him just after midnight on September 20, hours after President Garfield died. Arthur took the oath again two days later after returning to Washington. The second oath was performed to clear up any dispute over whether the first oath was official since it was administered by a state, not a federal, official.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 7: Standardized Time

At the request of President Arthur, the International Meridian Conference was held in Washington, D.C. in October 1884 to determine the Prime Meridian of the world.  The conference established the Greenwich Meridian and international standardized time, which are both still recognized today.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 8: Late Night Strolls

Arthur liked to take friends on late night walks around Washington, D.C., sometimes as late as three or four in the morning. It was rare for him to be in bed before two o’clock.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 9: A Skilled Fisherman

Arthur belonged to the Restigouche Salmon Club, a group of fishermen from New York who traveled to Canada to fish. A skilled fisherman, he once reportedly caught an eighty pound bass off the coast of Rhode Island.

Facts about Chester A. Arthur 10: A Sharp Dressed Man

Arthur was sometimes called “elegant Arthur” for his interest in fashionable attire and on his last day in office, four young women offered to marry him. It was said he had over eighty pairs of pants and often changed them several times a day.

Those following facts about Chester A. Arthur might make you feel more amazed about the his life. His life is really interesting. And also, since he took great responsibility to the whole America, he was really kind to people, yet really caring to each other. Hope you found Chester A. Arthur facts really interesting and useful.