Born in Dutton, Ontario, McArthur was educated in Dutton, at Queen's University and at Osgoode Hall.[2] He worked at the Dominion Archives of Canada from 1907 to 1912.[4] In 1915, he was called to the Ontario bar and practised law in Toronto for two years. From 1919 to 1922, he was assistant general manager for a trust company. In 1920, McArthur married Floy Lawson.[2] In 1922, he joined the history department at Queen's University, later serving as department head.[1] In 1934, he became Ontario's Deputy Minister of Education.[4]
Politics
McArthur was elected to the Ontario assembly by acclamation in 1940 following the death of Leonard Simpson.[2] He served in the Ontario cabinet as Minister of Education from 1940 to 1943.[3]
He was the author of several textbooks and contributed to the Cambridge History of the British Empire.[2]
Duncan McArthur Hall at Queen's University, which houses the university's Faculty of Education, was named in his honour,[1] as was Duncan McArthur Public School, also in Kingston (now closed).
