Pres. James A. Garfield on his deathbed, lithograph, 1881 (more) How Did James A. Garfield Die? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/How-Did-James-A-Garfield-Die Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Amy Tikkanen Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Amy Tikkanen Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 5, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot The short answer is that Pres. James A. Garfield died as the result of an assassin’s bullet. However, the ultimate cause of his death was more complex than a gunshot wound. On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot twice at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. His assailant was Charles J. Guiteau, a mentally unstable office seeker with messianic visions. The first shot grazed Garfield’s arm, while the second bullet pierced his back and lodged behind his pancreas. However, the bullet did not strike any vital organs, and the wound was survivable. In fact, if Garfield had ...(100 of 426 words)

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