Ohio Governor Gravesites: #11 Duncan McArthur

Duncan McArthur

Born: June 14, 1772

Died: April 29, 1839

Political Party: Federalist / National Republican

Term of Office: December 18, 1830 - December 7, 1832

Buried: Grandview Cemetery Chillicothe, Ohio

No. 27 of 56

Duncan McArthur was born in New York State in 1772 to a poor farming family. His family moved to western Pennsylvania when he was still very young. He was the oldest of 11 children. Life on the frontier was tough and while growing up, McArthur never had a formal education, since he was needed to work most of the time.

In 1790, McArthur joined the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Before long he was in the Northwest Territories fighting Native Americans. In the military he earned recognition for bravery and good leadership.

In 1793, he joined a surveying expedition of the Northwest Territories led by Nathaniel Massie. Three years later, he joined Massie again on another surveying job. This time laying out the new town of Chillicothe, Ohio. McArthur likes the area so much that he acquired some land in the area. He found a way to make a lot of money on land speculation in the Northwest Territory. So he built a really nice house on the land that he had gotten in Chillicothe and called it "Fruit Hill". McArthur earned a reputation for his hospitality at Fruit Hill. Chillicothe became the first Capital of Ohio when it obtained statehood in 1803.

McArthur first entered politics in 1805 when he was elected to the Ohio State Senate. Then in 1809, he became Speaker of the State Senate. In this position he supported moving the State Capital in Columbus.

When the War of 1812 broke out, McArthur had joined the state militia and was quickly promoted to Major General. McArthur served as second in command to General William Hull in the state militia at Fort Detriot. He was captured by the British near Detroit when Hull surrendered to British forces. After being paroled he joined the U.S. Army and became a Brigadier General under the command of future President and General William Henry Harrison. Shortly after the fall of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh in 1814, Harrison resigned, leaving McArthur in command of the army in the Northwest.

After the war, McArthur was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives 1815, where he managed a few treaties with American Indian tribes. He lost reelection to a 3rd term in the Ohio House in 1819. However, throughout the 1820's he would serve in a number of elected offices. From 1821-1823 he served in the State Senate again. Then from 1823-1825 he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. After losing reelection in 1825, he served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1826-1827 and again from 1829-1830.

McArthur ran for Governor in 1830, beating future Governor Robert Lucas. As Governor, the Ohio and Erie Canal was completed. Also the National road made it as far a Zanesville. Other then that he served one uneventful term as Ohio's Governor and did not seek re election.

He retired to his Fruit Hill home in Chillicothe, Ohio. After he died in 1839, his son in law, Future Governor William Allen inherited his home.