William Alexander McArthur

Who was William Alexander McArthur?

William Alexander McArthur, was a British Liberal politician and businessman.

McArthur was born in Sydney, Australia, the eldest son of Alexander McArthur and his wife Maria Boden. His father was a businessman and politician in Australia and England, becoming MP for Leicester. He was educated privately. In 1890 he married Florence Creemer Clarke.

He became a merchant like his father. He became a partner in the firm of W. and A. McArthur, Colonial Merchants. He was a Director of the Bank of Australasia. He was Mas Commr. for New South Wales at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in 1886.

McArthur was elected to Parliament for Buckrose at the 1886 general election, with a majority of a single vote, but was unseated on a scrutiny being held and the seat was awarded to the Conservative candidate, Christopher Sykes. He entered Parliament for St Austell in an 1887 by-election, a seat he held until 1908. He served in the Liberal administrations of William Ewart Gladstone and the Earl of Rosebery as a Junior Lord of the Treasury from 1892 to 1895.

McArthur died in June 1923.