James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was an American soldier and politician who served as the 20th President of the United States in 1881. He was the second president to be assassinated, killed after only about 6 months in office. Garfield had served nine terms in the House of Representatives, and had been elected to the Senate before his candidacy for the White House, though he declined the Senate seat once he was elected president. He is the only sitting House member to be elected president.