On July 2, 1881, Charles Guiteau, a crazed and disgruntled office seeker who believed President James Garfield (1831–1881) owed him a position in the government, fired two shots from a British Bulldog revolver into the president, grazing his shoulder with the first bullet and striking him in the back with the second. Garfield lived for another 79 days.
During this time, Lucretia Garfield (1832–1918), often called “Crete” by family and friends, remained constantly at his side, consulting with the doctors and doing what she could to help her husband of 22 years fight the horrific pain brought by infection. She herself was only just recovering from life-threatening malaria when news of the shooting reached her, yet she raced to be with James in the White House.
