Isaac Wayne MacVeagh served as U.S. attorney general from March to October 1881 under Presidents James Garfield and Chester Arthur. The assassination of President Garfield just four months into his presidency led to a shakeup in the cabinet. MacVeagh, as others in the cabinet, resigned out of deference to President Arthur, leaving him free to appoint his allies.

MacVeagh was born on April 19, 1833 in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree from Yale University in 1853 and then decided he wanted to become a lawyer. At this time in the nation's history, most attorneys entered the profession through a term of apprenticeship commonly known as "reading the law." MacVeagh followed this course, apprenticing with a West Chester, Pennsylvania lawyer. After a lengthy term of service that included clerical duties as well as legal research, MacVeagh passed the state bar exam in 1856. After several years in private practice he became the...