Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918), was the wife of James A. Garfield, who served as president of the United States in 1881. Her time as an active first lady was brief. She became first lady when her husband was inaugurated in March 1881. In May, she became seriously ill with malaria and could not carry out her first lady duties. In July, while she was recovering, President Garfield was shot by an assassin. He died in September.