James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1887-1891.


Portrait of James A. Beaver.
Full Size

Wounded four times during the Civil War, James Beaver became an active campaigner for Republican candidates, but refused to run for offered himself, even when offered the opportunity to be James Garfield's vice presidential running mate in 1880. Had he run, Beaver would have become president of the United States when Garfield was assassinated in 1881. In 1886, Beaver became the fourth Civil War general to be elected governor of Pennsylvania.