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. 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.
He made his fortune in the electrical supply business in Chicago. Appleton loved art and antiques from an early age. Appleton entered Dartmouth College at age 16, receiving his degree from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration and Finance in 1936.
Appleton married actress Martha O"Driscoll in 1947.
The Appletons lived in the Northbrook area, and they had another home in Indian Creek Village, Florida. 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. 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.
He was also involved in real estate development in California and the oil business in Oklahoma. He appeared on the Forbes 400 list one time, in 1984, with a Netto worth of $200 million. Appleton was interested in thoroughbred horse racing in Chicago and later in Florida.
He served on the board of Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.
In the 1970s, he started accumulating the land that became Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida. The farm bred over 90 stakes winners.
Notable horses he bred include Southern Image and David Junior. Bridlewood was sold to media mogul John C. Malone in 2013.
lieutenant was Ocala"s first art museum.
Appleton died at home on January 15, 2008, at the age of 92.
