Four-part historical series Death by Lightning is now available to stream in full on Netflix, and it tells a story so remarkable it couldn't possibly be true – except it is.
Guiteau was delusional, and believed he had been a considerable asset in getting Garfield elected. When he was not rewarded for doing so, he sought retribution, shooting Garfield.
But just how true to real history is the series that viewers can now watch on Netflix? Read on for everything you need to know about the true story behind Death by Lightning.
What is Death by Lightning about?
The series was created by Mike Makowsky, who said that the series, which is set in the 19th century, still remains incredibly relevant today, telling Tudum: "The theme of corruption in politics and our bureaucracy feels particularly evergreen these days.
"In 1881, it feels like America is sort of standing at a crossroads between the past and what the future of this country is going to look like, and it’s up to [people like Garfield] to really define how America, 100 years after its inception, is going to look and what kind of society they’re going to be."
Is Death by Lightning based on a book?
Showrunner Makowsky told Tudum that he read Millard's book in "one sitting, because it was one of the most insane true stories I had ever heard".
"As soon as I finished the book, I knew that I needed to adapt it and that in its best incarnation, it could speak to people in ways that other period shows might not."
How closely does Death by Lightning follow the real history?
This means that while all the central characters are based on real figures, and all of the central events that take place really did happen, the dialogue, many of the specific scenes, and many of the character interactions have been created to fill in the blanks.
Did James Garfield really not want to be President?
As seen in the series, the Republican Party was split into two feuding factions, known as the Half-Breeds who wanted civil service reform, and the Stalwarts who did not.
Garfield protested that he did not want the nomination, but he continued to get more ballots cast in his favour, with those voting for Sherman and James Blaine eventually shifting their allegiances to him.
The Stalwarts were still dissatisfied with Garfield, so a staunch one of their members, and ally to their leader Roscoe Conkling, was chosen to be the vice presidential nominee. This was Chester A Arthur, who went on to be the 21st president of the United States after Garfield's untimely death.
Did Charles Guiteau really sing a poem as he was hanged?
In a particularly jaw-dropping scene, Guiteau sings to the crowd before his death, reciting a poem called I Am Going to the Lordy.
Death by Lightning is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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