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Michael Shannon (\u201cNocturnal Animals\u201d) is to play assassinated President James A. Garfield with\u00a0Matthew Macfadyen\u00a0(\u201cSuccession\u201d) as his killer Charles Guiteau in a new series, \u201cDeath by Lightning\u201d for Netflix, Deadline was first to report<\/a>.<\/p>\n Based on historian Candice Millard\u2019s book, \u201cDestiny of The Republic<\/a>,\u201d<\/em> the series is set to follow Guiteau, a failed evangelist, insurance salesman, attorney, and one-time admirer of President Garfield whose obsession turned deadly.<\/p>\n After stalking Garfield in the capital for weeks, Guiteau found his opportunity to strike on the morning of July 2, 1881, after a newspaper article tipped off the soon-to-be-assassin of the president\u2019s whereabouts.<\/p>\n Guiteau shot Garfield twice in the back with a .442 Webley, nicknamed the British Bulldog revolver for its large-caliber capacity.<\/p>\n Garfield\u2019s doctors were unable to remove the bullet, which was lodged in the president\u2019s pancreas. On Sept. 19, 1881, 80 days after the shooting, Garfield died of blood poisoning, \u201c<\/p>\n Continuing his stunning run of audaciousness, the imprisoned Guiteau \u2014 who had previously castrated himself \u2014 placed an advert in the local newspaper stating: \u201cI am looking for a wife and see no objection in mentioning it here. I want an elegant Christian lady of wealth, under 30, belonging to a first-class family. Any such lady can address me with the utmost confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n