Chester Alan Arthur II

Chester "Alan" Arthur's parents

Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur (1837–1880), photograph taken between 1857 and 1870

Chester Alan Arthur (1829 – 1886), photograph taken 1859

Chester Alan Arthur II was the second son of Ellen Lewis Herndon and Chester A. Arthur.[1] Ellen was the daughter of explorer William Lewis Herndon.[2] He was born on July 25, 1864[3] in New York City.[2] His elder brother William Lewis Herndon Arthur, was born in December 1860, named after Ellen's father, and died in July 1863[4][5] from convulsions[2] or swelling of the brain.[6] It was particularly difficult for Nell, her husband wrote, "Nell is broken hearted. I fear for her health."[4] Feeling as if they had "taxed" William's brain with "intellectual demands",[2][6] they pampered their second son, who "led a life that closely resembled that of European royalty."[2] He wore nice clothes, learned to sail and ride, and was taught charm and vanity. His parents had somewhat of a laissez-faire attitude about his academics.[6]

He had a younger sister, Ellen Herndon "Nell" Arthur, who was born in 1871.[4][7][nb 1]

The family had a home at 123 Lexington Avenue in Kips Bay, Manhattan. There, Ellen held musical recitals, dinners and other parties at home to support her husband's professional and political ambitions. Chester had offices at Fifth Avenue Hotel, which was then the "epicenter of New York Republican politics. Although it was near his family's home, he used the hotel as a second home. He also spent many evenings away from the family at Delmonico's.[10] From March through April 1878, Arthur traveled with his mother and sister to Europe.[4]

His parents' marriage was not particularly happy; Ellen Arthur had difficulty managing her husband's "late hours and high living". His mother died in 1880 of pneumonia, before her husband was elected vice president.[1][11] Regarding his father's reaction to his wife's death, "It was said that something graver, softer, kindlier, was observable in the character of her husband, aft the falling of that heavy blow."[12]

It was said of his father's attentiveness to his children, "although Arthur loved to showcase his two children"[1] at New York[13] and "White House social affairs, he much preferred fishing, feasting with his cronies, and administrative work to family life."[1][7] His relationship with his children was considered "somewhat strained and aloof".[13]

Author Annette Atkins theorizes that Chester Alan Arthur II may have developed a "rosebud gathering", or live for the moment attitude about life due to his mother's early death at the age of 42. Another contributing factor may have been the zealousness of his father's ambitions that kept him away from his family, which was very difficult for his mother, and presumably the children.[6]

USS Despatch

The presidential yacht during Chester A. Arthur's presidency that his son enjoyed.

President Arthur did not spend much time with his children, but he liked to "showcase his children" during lavish parties he held in Washington. Ellen did not particularly enjoy the attention, but Chester Arthur II "took to the social life" and enjoyed a life of leisure over one of professional ambition.[7][nb 2] He was called "the Prince of Washington" for the way he made the most of being the son of the President, such as attending receptions and using the presidential yacht.[14] While at the College of New Jersey (today’s Princeton) during his father's presidency Arthur would take the train to Washington, D.C., and party "into the wee hours".[15] During his White House visits he would play the piano and the banjo.[16]

Arthur was at his father's side at the family's 123 Lexington Avenue house when[17] the former President died in 1886.[18] Shortly before his father's death, Arthur burned his father's official papers that filled 3 garbage cans; He was dubbed the "presidential papers destroyer". Someone intervened to prevent the destruction of all of the papers.[8]

Arthur and his sister remained close until her death in 1915. He had once expressed concern that when Ellen married, he would have lost all connections with any family. When Ellen became engaged, she told her brother that he was not losing her and that getting married hadn't altered the extent to which she loved him. When Myra became pregnant, Arthur told his sister first before anyone else.[19]

Arthur attended College of New Jersey (today’s later named Princeton University)[7] and graduated in 1885.[3] He studied law at Columbia Law School,[14] in the hope of taking over his father's law firm in New York City[2] but withdrew before he completed his studies.[20]

After graduation, in 1887, he sailed to Europe[3] and stayed there for nearly 13 years.[14][20][21] His was able to travel every major European city and "enjoy a gentleman's life" due to his inheritance from his father.[21] He was part of Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales's, circle of friends. His son described him as "the perfect pattern of an Edwardian gentleman and of a Europeanized American." He was described as "tall, handsome and athletic."[22]

He married wealthy divorcée Myra Townsend Fithian Andrews on May 10, 1900 at the English American Episcopal Church and at a civil ceremony in Vevey, Switzerland.[3][14][23] While in Europe he enjoyed the company of "female admirers", the cuisine, and horses, particularly "driving horse-drawn carriages throughout the French countryside." By this time, he preferred to be called Alan. He campaigned for the position of Ambassador to the Netherlands in 1897, but was unsuccessful.[20]

He returned to the United States in 1900 and had a home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and also had a residence in Europe.[8]

Chester Alan and Myra Arthur's home, Edgeplain in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In October 1900, Arthur and his bride went to Colorado for his health; he had asthma and bronchitis.[14] The couple's son, Chester Alan Arthur III, was born March 21, 1901.[3] Myra gave birth to a daughter, named Ellen for Arthur's mother and sister, but she did not survive.[21]

They lived on income from investments, including Arthur's interest in the 250,000-acre cattle ranch, Trinchera Estate. In addition to raising cattle, the company mined gold, cut timber, and created a game park reserve for antelope, elk, and bison.[20]

Arthur's health improved in the Colorado climate.[14][24] He was president of Cheyenne Mountain Country Club between 1905 and 1908. He also provided funding for facilities at the club.[25] Polo became a favored sport as the result of top polo players to the area. When Vice President Theodore Roosevelt visited Colorado Springs in 1901, he had dinner at the Arthurs' home, Edgeplain, and attended a polo match.[14][24]

Arthur and Spencer Penrose built a Cheyenne Mountain clubhouse, based upon the "gourmet, culinary" Rabbit Club in Philadelphia in 1914.[26]

Arthur's carriage is one of the exhibits at the Carriage Museum at The Broadmoor resort.[27][28]

Arthur was a member of New York's Member Union, Knickerbocker, Brook and Racquet and Tennis Clubs. In Paris, he was a member of the Travelers' Club. He was a member of the Denver Club, El Paso Club and Colorado Springs Country Club.[29]

Myra and Chester Arthur II divorced in 1927[3] or 1929. During the couple's marriage, Arthur had been a womanizer who enjoyed drinking and partying. Myra realized her husband had been having an affair in 1909, said that she would grant him his freedom but would fight to keep their son. The couple reconciled, but had a rocky marriage until they divorced.[21]

Arthur married Rowena Dashwood Graves in 1934.[3] She was 39 and he was 70 years of age when they married.[21]

Arthur died on July 18, 1937[3] in Colorado Springs.[21] He was the last surviving child of Chester A. Arthur. An obituary in the Miami Times said that Arthur was an "internationally known sportsman, art connoisseur and son of the late President Chester Arthur."[30] Rowena died in 1969.[21]