A Notable Man.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 71, 24 November 1887, Page 4

A Notable Man.

61* William MacArthur, K.C.M.G. who died in London last week, was the son of the Her. John MacArthur, of Londonderry, and was born in that city in 1810. After successfully carrying on the business of a merchant in his birth-place for some years, in 1867 be removed to London, where he was elected Sheriff of London and Middlesex in 1867, and became Alder* man in 1872, He occupied the Lord Mayor’s chair in 1880. Meanwhile he had extended his business relations, and had become head of the soft goods firm of W. and A. MacArthur, doing business in London, Sydney, Mel* bourne, Auckland, and Samoa. He took a prominent part in politics, and after unsuccessfully contesting Pontefract as a Liberal in 1865, was returned for Lambeth in 1868. He held this seat until defeated at the general election of 1885. In religion he favoured the Wesleyan body, and for some years occupied the position of President of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. The firm, of which Sir William was head, have extensive land interests in Samoa, and their name will be remembered as having figured largely in recent legal proceedings which have attracted considerable attention. He was a bank and railway director in London, where he also occupied a seat at the Boards of four joint stock companies, He was a member of the Reform and other London clubs. A few years age he paid a visit to this colony, and made a tour of the Hot Lake district.