James Abram Garfield was the twentieth President of the United States, and, as a result of his assassination, served only six months in that office—the second shortest administration in United States history.

Prior to his election as president, Garfield served as a major general in the United States Army and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as a member of the Electoral Commission of 1876. Garfield was the second U.S. President to be assassinated—Abraham Lincoln was the first. President Garfield, a Republican, had been in office a scant four months when he was shot and fatally wounded on July 2, 1881. He lived until September 19, having served for six months and fifteen days. Only William Henry Harrison, who served in office for only 31 days, had a shorter presidency. To date, Garfield is the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to have been elected President.