Years in Office: 1881

James A. Garfield was the last President to be born in a log cabin. Nobody knows what kind of president he would be because he was assassinated a few months in office. His is the shortest term next to William Henry Harrison. Before becoming president, he was a successful professor, college president, Civil War General, and U.S .Congressman. He was a very brilliant man and would entertain his friends by writing Greek in one hand and Latin in the other.

On July 2, 1881, while standing in a railroad station in Washington D.C., Charles J. Guiteau stepped out of a crowd of people and fired 2 shots at Garfield. Guiteau held a grudge because he didn't appoint him the U.S. Consul in Paris, France. Garfield lived near death for 80 days. Surgeons couldn't find the bullet lodged in his back.

In the short time Garfield was president, The Red Cross was organized by Clara Barton. Garfield County in Utah is named for this President.