| Timeline |
| 1829 |
Born 5 October |
| 1848 |
Graduates from Union College |
| 1851 |
Principal of North Pownal Academy in Vermont |
| 1853 |
Enters a law office in NYC |
| 1854 |
Admitted to the bar |
| 1859 |
Marries Ellen Lewis Herndon |
| 1860 |
Son, William Lewis Herndon Arthur, born |
| 1861 |
Serves as acting quartermaster general of the state during the Civil War (He is later commissioned as inspector general, and appointed quartermaster general with the rank of brigadier general and served until 1862) |
| 1862 |
Son, William, dies of a brain disease |
| 1864 |
Son, Chester Alan Arthur II, born |
| 1865 |
Resumes the practice of law in New York City |
| 1871 |
Appointed Collector of the Port of New York by President Grant |
| 1871 |
Daughter, Ellen Hansbrough Herndon, born |
| 1877 |
President Hayes demands the resignation of Arthur during as part of his civil service reforms |
| 1880 |
Delegate at large from New York to the Republican national convention; nominated to run as Vice-President with James Garfield |
| 1880 |
Wife dies |
| 1881 |
President Garfield dies, Arthur assumes presidency |
| 1882 |
Contracts Bright's Disease, a fatal kidney disease |
| 1883 |
Tariff Act of 1883 |
| 1884 |
Nominated in the Republican convention, but defeated by James G. Blaine |
| 1886 |
Dies 18 November |
