Douglas MacArthur

Profession: US WWII General

Nationality:

Biography: Born into a military family Douglas MacArthur graduated from Westpoint in 1903. During World War I he was a Colonel in the 42nd 'Rainbow Division' and eventually its commander. During this period he was awarded 7 silver stars and the Distinguished Service Medal.

After a period as Superintendent at Westpoint where he instituted new reforms, MacArthur left in 1922 to take up a command in Manilla. In 1930 he was named the army's Chief of Staff but his reputation took a hit when he lead troops against the 'bonus army' of vets in Washington in 1932.

MacArthur was back in the Philippines when WWII broke out and many of hi forces were destroyed in attacks on the Philippines the day after Pearl harbour. MacArthur was forced to retreat to the Bataan peninsula and then Australia, vowing to one day return. He became a major figure in the war in the Pacific fighting his way through New Guinea. By October 1944 he returned to the island of Leyte, before liberating the rest of the Philippines. In September 1945 he received the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri.

After the war as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan he oversaw the country's reconstruction. He successfully steered it towards democracy overseeing improvements in land ownership and human rights that were to have a lasting effect. His last command was as Commander of a United Nations force in the Korean War but he was relived of his command in 1951 after disagreements in strategy and returned to the US.

Born: January 26, 1880
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: April 5, 1964 (aged 84)