He was born in Glasgow on 2 August 1892 the son of Donald McArthur, a coal trader and ship owner, and his wife Anne Dewar. The family lived at 15 Maxwell Drive in Glasgow.^[1] He was educated at Allan Glen's School then studied chemistry at Glasgow University graduating BSc in 1913.

He went to work at the West of Scotland College of Agriculture first as a Lecturer and was promoted to professor following his award of a doctorate in 1928.^[2] In 1945 he moved to the Macaulay Institute near Aberdeen, becoming its Director in 1948.

In 1929 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were James Montagu F. Drummond, Alexander Lauder, Sir James Walker and George Barger.^[3]

In 1953 he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

He died in Edinburgh on 23 August 1965.

Life

Family

Publications

References