CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR

[Library of Congress]

1829-1886

21st President (1881-1885), 20th Vice President (1881)

Biographical Data
Religious Views
Quotations
References, Links, & Further Reading

Education: Union College

Occupation: teacher, lawyer

Political Affiliation: Republican

Religious Affiliation: Episcopalian

Summary of Religious Views:

As a result of a religious experience, Arthur's father became a Baptist minister, but Arthur doesn't seem to have shared his father's faith. Arthur sometimes attended church, generally favoring Episcopal services. Franklin Steiner, in his book The Religious Beliefs Of Our Presidents, categorized Arthur among "Presidents Whose Religious Views Are Doubtful."

Views on Religion & Politics:

Quotations:

"The fact that adherents of the Mormon Church, which rests upon polygamy as its corner stone, have recently been peopling in large numbers Idaho, Arizona, and other of our Western Territories is well calculated to excite the liveliest interest and apprehension. It imposes upon Congress and the Executive the duty of arraying against this barbarous system all the power which under the Constitution and the law they can wield for its destruction." -- annual message, 6 December 1881

References, Links, & Further Reading: Books, Articles, Links

Books

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Justus D. Doenecke, The Presidencies of James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur (American Presidency Series), Regents Press of Kansas, 1981
Scott S. Greenberger, The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur, Da Capo Press, 2017
George F. Howe, Chester A. Arthur, A Quarter-century Of Machine Politics, Dodd Press, 1934
Zachary Karabell, Chester Alan Arthur (The American Presidents), Times Books, 2004
Thomas C. Reeves, Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur, Knopf, 1975; reprint, American Political Biography Press, 1991

Articles

Ben Perley Poore, "Chester Alan Arthur," The Bay State Monthly, Vol. 1, Iss. 5, May, 1884, pp. 265-277

Links

Works by Chester Alan Arthur

Chester A. Arthur (American Presidency Project)
State of the Union Address by Chester Alan Arthur (Project Gutenberg)

Biographical Sites

Chester Alan Arthur (POTUS)
Chester A. Arthur (White House)
ARTHUR, Chester Alan, 1829-1886 (Biographical Directory of the US Congress)
Chester A. Arthur (American President)
Chester A. Arthur (USA Presidents)
Life Portrait of Chester A. Arthur (C-SPAN)
President Chester A. Arthur State Historic Site (Vermont)
Chester A. Arthur (Medical History of the Presidents of the United States)
The Pen Pal Who Changed a President (Narratively)