Arthur MacArthur

Arthur MacArthur Sr. (January 26, 1815 – August 26, 1896) was a Scottish American immigrant, lawyer, politician, and judge. He was the fifth lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1856 to 1858, and during that term he served for 4 days in March 1856 as the fourth governor of Wisconsin, due to the dispute over the results of the 1855 gubernatorial election. After his term as lieutenant governor, he served a decade as Wisconsin circuit court judge for Milwaukee and Waukesha counties (1858–1869). He was then appointed an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, serving from 1870 to 1887.

After his judicial service, MacArthur remained in Washington, D.C. He served as trustee, president of the board of regents, and chancellor of National University. He also served as president of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Children.

He was the father of U.S. Army General Arthur MacArthur Jr. and grandfather of General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur is the modern spelling used by his descendants, but in documents from his own time, his name was spelled McArthur.