Arthur Saint Clair was a prominent American military officer and politician in the late 18th century. Born in 1734 in Scotland, he served as a general during the American Revolutionary War and played a significant role in the early governance of the Northwest Territory. In 1787, Saint Clair became the first governor of the Northwest Territory, where he worked to establish a framework for settlement and governance. His tenure was marked by challenges, including conflicts with Native American tribes, which culminated in the Battle of the Wabash in 1791, one of the worst defeats for American forces during that period.