Arthur Ivar Appleton (October 14, 1915 – January 15, 2008) was a businessman from the Northbrook area of Chicago. He lived part of the year in Chicago and split time between his Indian Creek estate near Miami Beach, Florida, and his thoroughbred farm, Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida. He was one of the leading thoroughbred horse breeders and owners in the United States. He made his fortune in the family's electrical supply business, Appleton Electric Company, founded by his father, Albert Ivar Appleton, in Chicago in 1903.
Appleton was born in Chicago on October 14, 1915, the son of the founder of the Appleton Electric Company, Swedish industrialist Albert I. Appleton, and Lillian W. Appleton.[1][2] Appleton loved art and antiques from an early age. His mother was a concert pianist, singer and collector of fine art, who instilled in Arthur and his sister, Edith-Marie, her love of beautiful things. Appleton entered Dartmouth College at age 16, receiving his degree from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration and Finance in 1936.[2] Appleton served in the Navy during World War II, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.[1][2] Appleton married actress Martha O'Driscoll in 1947.[1] The Appletons lived in the Northbrook area, and they had another home in Indian Creek Village, Florida.[1][3]
Appleton joined the family business, which manufactured electrical products used in chemical and steel plants as well as indoor and outdoor lighting equipment. In 1947, Appleton became president and chairman of Appleton Electric Company.[1] He contributed many inventions to the electronics field, acquiring more than 160 patents. Upon his retirement in 1982, the business was sold to Emerson Electric.[1] He was also involved in real estate developmentinCalifornia and the oil business in Oklahoma.[1] He appeared on the Forbes 400 list one time, in 1984, with a net worth of $200 million.[4]
