Charles J. Guiteau

Charles Julius Guiteau (/ɡɪˈt/ ghih-TOH; September 8, 1841  June 30, 1882) was an American man who assassinated James A. Garfield, president of the United States, in 1881. Guiteau falsely believed he had played a major role in Garfield's election victory, for which he should have been rewarded with a consulship. He felt frustrated and offended by the Garfield administration's rejections of his applications to serve in Vienna or Paris to such a degree that he decided to kill Garfield and shot him at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. Garfield died two months later from infections related to the wounds. In January 1882, Guiteau was sentenced to death for the crime and was hanged five months later.

Charles J. Guiteau
Guiteau in 1881
Born
Charles Julius Guiteau

(1841-09-08)September 8, 1841
DiedJune 30, 1882(1882-06-30) (aged 40)
D.C. Jail, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Known forAssassination of James A. Garfield
Political party
  • Democratic (1872)
  • Republican (Stalwart faction, 1880–1882)
Spouse
Annie Bunn
(m. 1869; div. 1874)
MotiveMental illness possibly related to neurosyphilis, schizophrenia and/or grandiose narcissism; retribution for perceived failure to reward campaign support
Conviction(s)First degree murder
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
VictimsJames Abram Garfield, aged 49
DateJuly 2, 1881
Location(s)Washington, D.C., U.S.
Signature
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