Arthur was the name of Chester A. ARTHUR's father. He was a Baptist minister and teacher who had emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1811. ARTHUR was born in Fairfield, Vermont in 1829 and served as the 21st President of the United States from 1881 to 1885. He was a member of the Republican Party and was known for his commitment to civil service reform. He also oversaw the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which established the merit-based system for federal government jobs that is still in use today.