Cleveland People		2 / 10

The 20th president of the U.S. was born on a farm just outside Cleveland in 1831.

Before entering politics, James Abram Garfield taught classics and served as president of Williams College in Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1856. In the CivilWar, Garfield volunteered in the Union Army, leading troops through several successful battles, including the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battle of Shiloh. After being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1863, he resigned his commission as major general.

Garfield was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1880. Before his term began, however, he attended the Republican Convention as campaign manager for John Shaman. But it turned out that Garfield became the Republican candidate for president. He and running mate Chester Alan Arthur ran their successful campaign from Cleveland, with Garfield meeting voters at his "Lawnfield" home in Mentor.

Shortly after taking office, Garfield was shot at the Washington, D.C. railroad station by Charles Julius Guiteau, a disappointed office seeker. The President died Sept. 19, 1881 and was buried according to his wishes at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.