Which American general accepted Japan’s surrender for the Allied powers in 1945?

Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s surrender for the Allied powers in 1945.

MacArthur served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and presided over the ceremony aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. After the Japanese representatives signed, he signed the instrument on behalf of the Allied nations. His signature appeared before those of the other Allied representatives.

At the ceremony, MacArthur delivered a brief opening statement expressing hope that the occasion would lead to a better world. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz then signed for the United States, while representatives of China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand signed afterward.

MacArthur is sometimes confused with Nimitz because both were senior American commanders in the Pacific. Nimitz represented the United States at the signing, but MacArthur accepted the surrender in his broader Allied command role. MacArthur later led the Allied occupation of Japan.