J. Roderick MacArthur
| John Roderick MacArthur | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 21, 1920 |
| Died | December 15, 1984 (aged 63) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Rollins College |
| Occupation | businessman and philanthropist |
| Known for | Bradford Exchange |
John Roderick MacArthur (December 21, 1920 – December 15, 1984) was a U.S. businessman and philanthropist in Chicago. The J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting civil rights in the United States, was established in his name.
The foundation established the MacArthur Justice Center, a public interest law firm that formed an alliance in 2006 at the Northwestern University School of Law, and litigates for civil rights. In addition, MacArthur Justice centers have been opened in New Orleans (2013), Oxford, Mississippi, in an association with the law school at University of Mississippi (2014); and Saint Louis, Missouri (2016).
He is the son of John D. MacArthur, who established the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in his will. It has funded the MacArthur fellowships, grants to authors, artists and scientists.
J. Roderick MacArthur, known as Rod MacArthur, was born December 21, 1920 to the former Louise Ingals and John D. MacArthur. The couple also had a daughter, Virginia MacArthur. In 1926 John D. MacArthur traveled to Mexico to obtain a divorce. Two years later he married Catherine T. Hyland.
Rod MacArthur attended Rollins College in Florida and worked as a stringer for the Associated Press in Mexico. During World War II, he joined the American Field Service, serving with the French Army in the ambulance corps, and he participated in the campaign that liberated France.
He worked for his father in the insurance industry before they became estranged. In 1973, while working with a company that sold ceramic collectable plates, MacArthur noticed that the collectible ceramic market was chaotic. He started the Bradford Exchange. By the time of his death, it sold about 90% of all the collectable plates in the world. Often credited with becoming "a self-made millionaire," MacArthur did have some financial backing from his father. The concept, business plan and effort were Rod MacArthur's own.
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