President Garfield Assassination

July 2, 1881

U.S. President James A. Garfield is shot and mortally wounded by Charles J. Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. Guiteau believed he deserved an appointed position due to his support of Garfield’s presidential campaign. When that didn’t happen, he decided to kill the President. Garfield died in September after extensive medical treatment. Guiteau was apprehended at the shooting and was tried and hanged for his crime.