Chester Alan Arthur II

Chester Alan Arthur II (July 25, 1864 – July 18, 1937), also known as Alan Arthur, was an American individual known for his pursuits in sports and art appreciation. He was the son of Chester A. Arthur, who served as the President of the United States from 1881 to 1885.

Born in New York City, Chester Alan Arthur II was the second child of Ellen Lewis Herndon and Chester A. Arthur. Ellen was the daughter of explorer William Lewis Herndon. His elder brother, William Lewis Herndon Arthur, was born in December 1860 and died in July 1863 from health complications. Chester Alan Arthur II had a younger sister, Ellen Herndon "Nell" Arthur, born in 1871. The family resided at 123 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, where Ellen hosted musical and social events.

His early childhood was marked by the death of his older brother and the later early death of his mother in 1880 due to pneumonia, shortly before Chester A. Arthur assumed the vice presidency. Chester A. Arthur's marriage was reportedly strained, and his relationship with his children was considered somewhat distant. Annette Atkins suggests that the early loss of his mother and his father's political ambitions influenced Chester Alan Arthur II's outlook on life.

During President Chester A. Arthur's tenure, Chester Alan Arthur II was known for participating in Washington's social scenes, earning the nickname "the Prince of Washington," due to his presence at receptions and events, including activities aboard the presidential yacht. He attended Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey) during his father's presidency, graduating in 1885. Subsequently, he studied law at Columbia Law School but withdrew before completing the program. He was present at his father's death in 1886, having burned many of Chester A. Arthur's official papers prior to his passing—a person in the family intervened to prevent the destruction of all documents.

After his studies, Andre traveled extensively in Europe for nearly 13 years beginning in 1887. He visited major European cities, enjoyed social and cultural pursuits, and was associated with Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. He preferred to be called Alan during this period and engaged in activities such as horse driving, dining, and socializing. His social connections included members of European aristocracy, and he was described as tall, handsome, and athletic.

In 1897, he made an unsuccessful campaign for the position of Ambassador to the Netherlands. Returning to the United States in 1900, Chester Alan Arthur II settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and maintained residences both in the U.S. and Europe. He moved to Colorado for health reasons, suffering from asthma and bronchitis, and he married Myra Townsend Fithian Andrews in Switzerland in 1900. The couple's only child, Chester Alan Arthur III, was born in 1901; a daughter named Ellen survived briefly but died in infancy.

The Arthurs' estate in Colorado included grazing land, mining operations, and a wildlife reserve. Chester Alan Arthur II's health improved in the Colorado climate, and he became president of the Cheyenne Mountain Country Club (1905–1908). He developed an interest in polo, hosting top players, and evaluating the sport's facilities in the region. During this period, he and Spencer Penrose constructed a clubhouse inspired by Philadelphia's Rabbit Club. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt visited Colorado Springs in 1901 and attended events hosted by the Arthurs.

His marriage to Myra Townsend Fithian Andrews ended in divorce in 1927. In 1934, he married Rowena Dashwood Graves, who was 39 at the time; he was 70. Chester Alan Arthur II was a member of various clubs, including New York's Knickerbocker, Racquet, and Tennis Clubs, as well as Paris's Travelers' Club and the Colorado Springs Country Club.

He died in Colorado Springs on July 18, 1937, at the age of 72, and was the last surviving child of Chester A. Arthur. His carriage is preserved at the Carriage Museum of The Broadmoor resort. His interests included sports, art collection, and social activities, with friendships among notable artists such as James McNeill Whistler and John Singer Sargent. His son, Chester Gavin Alan Arthur III, married Esther Knesborough, formerly the wife of John Strachey and daughter of Patrick Francis Murphy.