James A Garfield By avaandcam Nov 19, 1831 birth Period: Nov 19, 1831 to Sep 19, 1881 James A Garfield 1856 graduated from collage 1857 became a teacher 1861 colonel 1862 brigadier general 1863 major general 1869 Chairman, banking committee 1880 U.S. House of Representatives 1880 elected President 1881 died from infections from the gun shot Jul 19, 1881 shot by Charles Guiteau