James A. Garfield was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his assassination later that year on September 19, 1881. Before becoming president, he had a distinguished career as a minister, lawyer, and Civil War general, and he spent nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Garfield was known for his strong anti-corruption stance and for efforts to reform civil service and Post Office practices during his brief time in the White House. He remains one of the shortest-serving presidents in U.S. history, with a tenure lasting only about seven months.