DescriptionSkull of Charles Guiteau (AFIP 0385111), National Museum of Health and Medicine (4404181028).jpg |
Skull of Charles Guiteau (AFIP 0385111), National Museum of Health and Medicine
Description: Skull of Charles Guiteau, assassin of President Garfield, received 30 June 1882, contributed by Daniel S. Lamb.
Charles J. Guiteau is best known as the assassin of President James A. Garfield on July 2, 1881. Prior to this infamy, however, Guiteau practiced law, was a member of the Oneida Community, preached on theology, and campaigned in politics, particularly on behalf of President Garfield. Despite the limited scope of Guiteau’s influence on the outcome of the election, when Garfield won the Presidency, Guiteau petitioned for an ambassadorship, citing his own advocacy of Garfield as a tide-turning contribution which had decided the race. He repeatedly appealed to Garfield and other cabinet members for a diplomatic post until May 14, 1881, when he was summarily dismissed by Secretary of State James G. Blaine. Guiteau’s dejection over this rejection gave rise to his plan to assassinate President Garfield for what Guiteau perceived as the good of the Republican Party. On July 2, 1881, he waited for Garfield at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station (the present site of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.), where the President was embarking on a vacation with his wife. Approaching from behind, Guiteau shot Garfield in the back twice, piercing the lumbar vertebra. President Garfield survived the shots, but succumbed to infections three months later, dying on September 19, 1881. Guiteau was directly charged for the President’s death and was put on trial in November, but Guiteau pled not guilty under the “insanity” defense. His behavior during the trial was alarming to many, and seemed to possibly corroborate his plea, but his case ultimately ended in a guilty conviction. Guiteau was sentenced to death and hanged on June 30, 1882, in Washington, D.C.
Date: Guiteau executed and specimen received 30 June 1882.
Specimen ID: AFIP 0385111
Source collection (specimen): Anatomical division
Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives
Related material: For related historical information see subject files and accession records.
Rights: No known restrictions upon publication, physical copy retained by National Museum of Health and Medicine. Publication and high resolution image requests should be directed to the NMHM (<a href="http://www.medicalmuseum.mil/" rel="nofollow">www.medicalmuseum.mil/</a>) |