President Arthur honored on his 182nd birthday

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

President Chester A. Arthur is being honored on his 182nd birthday with a wreath-laying ceremony at his gravesite in Menands.

New York National Guard Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne will place a wreath from President Barack Obama at Arthur’s grave in Albany Rural Cemetery this morning.

Arthur, a former school teacher and lawyer, became president on Sept. 19, 1881 when President James Garfield died from a bullet wound suffered at the hands of an assassin.

Arthur attended Union College and lived in Hoosick. During his time in office he promoted the first federal Civil Service Law and oversaw the implementation of the first law governing immigration.

There is some confusion about Arthur’s birth year, though the White House and other sources list it as 1829.