On July 2, 1881, U.S. President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, while entering a train station in Washington, D.C. Guiteau believed that Garfields assassination would benefit the nation and improve his own political standing. Garfield survived for several weeks despite the wounds, but he suffered from a lack of proper medical care, as doctors failed to properly treat his injuries. On September 19, 1881, President Garfield died from infections caused by the gunshot wounds, marking the second assassination of a U.S. president. The event led to widespread reforms in U.S. civil service and the development of more modern medical practices.