How Civil War Medicine Killed President James Garfield

Coinciding with the new Netflix series Death By Lightning, join historian Jake Wynn on November 8 to explore how Civil War medical practices played a role in President James Garfield’s tragic death.

When an assassin’s bullet struck James Garfield in July 1881, the battle to save the president’s life began. In the weeks that followed, doctors argued over how to treat the stricken executive. In the end, Dr. D. Willard Bliss, a former Civil War surgeon, took control of Garfield’s recovery and controversy has surrounded his role ever since. Historian Jake Wynn will discuss the history of Garfield’s recovery and how antiquated techniques learned by Dr. Bliss during his Civil War experience played a role in James Garfield’s death in September 1881.

Jake Wynn is the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Frederick and the former National Museum of Civil War Medicine Director of Interpretation. He is a 2015 graduate of Hood College, with degrees in history and communications arts. He has formerly worked with Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.

The presentation is included with admission to the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum.