Chester Alan Arthur (October 5; 1829 - November 18; 1886) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 21st President of the United States (1881-85); he succeeded James A. Garfield upon the latter's assassination.

At the outset; Arthur struggled to overcome a slightly negative reputation; which stemmed from his early career in politics as part of New York's Republican political machine. He succeeded by embracing the cause of civil service reform. His advocacy for; and subsequent enforcement of; the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act was the centerpiece of his administration.