Who or what is Cape Arago, Oregon named after?

Answer 1

In my research I haven't found the origin of the name, but the history of the name is that "James Cook originally named Cape Arago Cape Gregory in 1778. William P. McArthur, a Naval Officer serving on the Coast Survey, charted the cape and named it Cape Arago on his 1850 maps. The actual islet the lighthouse station is situated on is also known as "Chief's Island" and "Lighthouse Island"."

"The first life saving station on the Oregon Coast was built in late 1878, two miles southwest of Cape Arago. The station, a rather quiet place without much rescue activity, had 14 keepers in 37 years, the highest turnover rate on the West Coast. The station was moved from Lighthouse Island to the North Spit of Coos Bay in July of 1891. The Keeper at that time was Joseph Hodgson who commanded a crew of eight surfmen. Since the station had moved quite far away from Cape Arago, the name was actually a misnomer and this issue was addressed in 1902 when the station was renamed. It has since then been known as the Coos Bay Life-Saving Station.

The original station was turned over to the GSA in 1955. A new Cape Arago station is still in operation and is now designated Station Coos Bay. Prior to 1884 no conveyance of any land had been obtained."