<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000354190-09-000036
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090512
<FILING-DATE>20090512
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090512
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>English Frank E. Jr.
<CIK>0001463048
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09761
<FILM-NUMBER>09818791
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.
<STREET2>TWO PIERCE PLACE
<CITY>ITASCA
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60143
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GALLAGHER ARTHUR J & CO
<CIK>0000354190
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6411
<IRS-NUMBER>362151613
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>TWO PIERCE PLACE
<CITY>ITASCA
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60143
<PHONE>6307733800
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>TWO PIERCE PLACE
<CITY>ITASCA
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60143-3141
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-12</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000354190</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GALLAGHER ARTHUR J &amp; CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AJG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001463048</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>English Frank E. Jr.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TWO PIERCE PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ITASCA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60143</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kerry S. Abbott  For: Frank E. English, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
