Arthur Morgan's Background

Arthur Morgan was born around 1863 to Beatrice and Lyle Morgan in the northern United States. His mother died when he was young, and his father, a petty criminal, died in 1874 when Arthur was 11. Despite their strained relationship, Arthur witnessed his father's death and kept his hat and a picture of him as a memento. In 1877, a "wild delinquent," Arthur was picked up by outlaws Dutch van der Linde and Hosea Matthews. The pair acted as surrogate father figures, teaching him how to read, write, hunt, and fight, thus making him their first protégé and a founding member of the Van der Linde gang.

As a young man, Arthur fell deeply in love with Mary Gillis, and they became engaged. Their relationship, however, failed due to his outlaw lifestyle and her family's disapproval. Later, he met a waitress named Eliza, who became pregnant with their son, Isaac. Arthur visited them periodically, but tragically, he found them dead in 1891, killed by robbers over just ten dollars. This traumatic event hardened him and made him realize the dangers of his life.

Arthur's early years with the gang were marked by key heists. In 1887, he participated in the gang's first major bank robbery alongside Dutch and Hosea, stealing $5,000 in gold and earning a reputation as a "wanted man." In the mid-1890s, he robbed a bank in Tucson, Arizona, with Karen Jones and Javier Escuella. He also attempted a stagecoach robbery with Javier but let the stagecoach go after finding it was full of women and children. The O'Driscoll's robbed it the very next day, murdering all the passengers, which hardened Arthur even more.

Arthur is a cold, brooding outlaw who is capable of great ruthlessness, but he also has a playful, witty, and sarcastic side that comes out around those he is friendly with. He is kind and gentle with John's son, Jack, and is a humble man who rarely feels the need to prove himself. While others call him a "fool" or an "idiot," he brushes off these criticisms, though those from his former lover, Mary Linton, seem to affect him.

Dutch raised Arthur to believe that violence should be a tool, used only out of necessity and never for pleasure. This moral code is a major part of why he later turns against Dutch, who begins to enjoy his violent methods. Arthur is self-aware of his intimidating nature, cunning, and intelligent. He rarely loses his cool, even when faced with betrayal or the death of a friend. He is also progressive for his time, showing disgust for racism and having no qualms with women doing work traditionally associated with men. He is widely regarded as the most dangerous and reliable member of the gang, with a broad skill set that includes being a peerless combatant, a skilled interrogator, a knowledgeable wilderness survivalist, and a master equestrian. He brings in more wealth and material for the gang than all the other members combined.

Arthur's relationship with Dutch was strong and healthy for much of 1899. He saw Dutch as a father figure and followed his every command. However, Arthur's distrust of Micah and his manipulation of Dutch, as well as Dutch's changing personality, would eventually lead to friction. As the gang declines, Arthur has an existential crisis, realizing that Dutch's philosophy was a ruse to justify a life of crime. With his faith in Dutch crushed and a terminal diagnosis of tuberculosis, he gains a new perspective. He realizes his own behavior was morally wrong and seeks to secure a future for John's family, a future he can't live to see but can guarantee.

Arthur and John were like brothers, raised together for 15 years. Their relationship strained when John ran away for a year after getting Abigail pregnant, an act that hurt Arthur deeply. As the story progresses, their relationship improves. Early on, Arthur rescues John from a pack of wolves, and later, shows respect for John's plan to rob a train. Ultimately, Arthur gives his life to stall the Pinkertons, allowing John to escape. He gives John his hat and satchel, and John, who is forever indebted to Arthur, later kills Micah in revenge for his death.

Arthur saw Hosea as a father figure, even admitting to liking him more than Dutch. They often played along with each other's shenanigans and went fishing and hunting together. Hosea taught Arthur how to read and often called for his backing during disputes with Dutch. During the failed bank job in Saint Denis, Hosea is killed by Agent Milton, a loss that deeply saddens Arthur. After Hosea's death, Arthur takes his place in trying to steer Dutch away from making bad decisions, though this proves largely unsuccessful due to Dutch's growing paranoia and Micah's manipulation.