Arthur MacArthur III

Who was Arthur MacArthur III?

Arthur MacArthur III was a United States Navy officer, whose active-duty career extended from the Spanish-American War through World War I. He was the elder brother of General Douglas MacArthur.

The son of United States Army General Arthur MacArthur, Jr., he chose a career in the Navy instead of following his father, graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1896.

During the Spanish-American War, Ensign MacArthur served aboard the steam yacht USS Vixen in the Battle of Santiago. He later participated in naval operations during the Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion.

In 1901, he married Mary H. McCalla, the daughter of Rear Admiral Bowman H. McCalla. They had five children, Arthur, Bowman McCalla, Douglas, Mary Elizabeth, Malcolm.

MacArthur commanded submarine USS Grampus, destroyer USS McCall, minelayer USS San Francisco, armored cruiser USS South Dakota and light cruiser USS Chattanooga . For distinguished work in protecting convoys from U-boats engaged in the Atlantic U-boat Campaign during 1918, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and was promoted to captain.