Which American general accepted Japan’s formal surrender aboard USS Missouri in 1945?

Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s formal surrender aboard USS Missouri in 1945.

MacArthur served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and presided over the ceremony in Tokyo Bay on September 2. He signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Allied powers before representatives of the individual Allied governments added their signatures.

His role reflected his command position in the Pacific, where he had directed major campaigns including the liberation of the Philippines. After the surrender, MacArthur became the leading authority in the Allied occupation of Japan and supervised demilitarization and major political and social reforms.

MacArthur was not the only senior American officer to sign. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signed afterward as the United States representative. This sometimes causes confusion, but MacArthur’s signature represented the Allied command, while Nimitz’s represented the U.S. government and armed forces.