Gavin Arthur: The Bohemian Legacy of a U.S. President’s Grandson

Though Chester A. Arthur, the 21st U.S. president, often fades into the background of history, his grandson, Chester Alan “Gavin” Arthur III, embarked on a journey that could fill the pages of a captivating tale. Born in 1901 into a world of wealth and privilege, Gavin’s life unfolded in a way that challenged the norms at every twist and turn.

During the roaring 1920s, Gavin found himself drawn to the enigmatic figure of the Omnipotent Oom, a guru at the helm of a provocative yoga cult that celebrated the sensual aspects of life. After departing from the group, Gavin journeyed across Europe, immersing himself in Irish nationalism and clandestinely supporting the IRA. He eventually transitioned into filmmaking, co-producing the groundbreaking 1930 film Borderline, which explored the complexities of interracial relationships.

In the 1940s, Gavin made his way to California, where he established Moy Mell, a vibrant commune nestled among the dunes of Pismo Beach. It became a gathering place for writers and artists like John Steinbeck and John Cage. As World War II erupted, he expanded his role to the Coast Guard and took on a military position, although the specifics of his service are subject to differing accounts.

In the aftermath of war, Gavin embarked on a transformative journey, embracing new identities as an astrologer, a champion for bisexual rights, a prison educator, and a sexologist of the Beat generation. In his 1962 work, The Circle of Sex, the author delved into the vast and intricate landscape of human sexuality.

In 1967, he played a pivotal role in selecting the date for the Human Be-In in San Francisco, an event that would resonate through time. The gathering, with notable personalities such as Timothy Leary and the Grateful Dead, sparked the hippie movement and laid the groundwork for the Summer of Love and Woodstock.

Gavin Arthur passed away in 1972 at a veterans hospital in San Francisco — a serene conclusion to a tumultuous existence. Unlike his presidential lineage, Gavin’s legacy is intricately woven into the fabric of the 20th-century counterculture.

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