to sway his protégé into reversing the earlier appointment by Garfield of William H. Robertson as Collector of the Port of New York. Arthur, who would become an avid champion of civil service reform, refused. On February 24, 1882, Arthur nominated Conkling as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, following the retirement of Ward Hunt. Arthur submitted the nomination to the Senate not knowing whether Conkling would accept it or not. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 2, 1882, by a 39–12 vote, but declined to serve in a letter to Arthur citing "reasons you would not fail to appreciate." The breach between Arthur and Conkling was never repaired. Without Conkling's leadership, his Stalwart faction dissolved. However, upon Arthur's death in 1886, he attended the funeral and showed deep sorrow according to on lookers. Personal life During his first term as Senator, Conkling purchased a mansion in Utica that remained his primary residence until his death. He adorned his walls with photos of Lord Byron, Daniel Webster, William W. Eaton, and Antonio López de Santa Anna (presented to Conkling’s father during his time as Minister to Mexico). Conkling was an avid reader of poetry, particularly the works of Lord Byron. He sometimes quoted or recited poetry in his speeches. He made careful study of British oratory throughout his life, and was a particular admirer of Thomas Babington Macaulay. Conkling was a personal friend and political ally of Senator Blanche Bruce, whom he defended against both racist and reformist critics, and who named his son Roscoe Conkling Bruce in honor of their friendship. Marriage and romantic affairs Conkling married Julia Catherine Seymour, sister of Governor of New York Horatio Seymour, on June 28, 1855; Horatio was strongly opposed to the marriage and remained a forceful political opponent of Conkling's. Their marriage was unhappy; Conkling focused on politics and was frequently unfaithful. Conkling had a reputation as a womanizer and philanderer, and was accused of having an affair with the married Kate Chase Sprague, daughter of Salmon P. Chase and wife of William Sprague IV. According to a well-known story, buttressed by contemporaneous press reports, Mr. Sprague confronted the philandering couple at the Spragues' Rhode Island summer home and pursued Conkling with a shotgun. One posthumous account from The New York Times (October 12, 1909) stated: The late Senator Roscoe Conkling was a frequent visitor at Canonchet [Sprague's estate],