Which American general accepted Japan’s formal surrender on behalf of the Allied powers?

Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s formal surrender on behalf of the Allied powers.

MacArthur served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and presided over the ceremony aboard USS Missouri on 2 September 1945. He signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender after Japan’s representatives had signed it and before the other Allied representatives added their signatures.

MacArthur had been a central American commander in the Pacific. He commanded Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, returned to the Philippines in October 1944, and directed the campaign that led to the liberation of the islands. After Japan surrendered, he became the leading Allied authority during the occupation of Japan.

MacArthur is sometimes confused with Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who signed the document as the United States representative. Nimitz was the senior U.S. Navy representative; MacArthur signed first for the Allied powers in his role as their supreme commander.