<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-19-011974.txt : 20190318
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-19-011974.hdr.sgml : 20190318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190318184514
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-19-011974
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190314
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190318
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190318

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Mead Christopher E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001737644

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09761
		FILM NUMBER:		19689717

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2850 GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			ROLLING MEADOWS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60008

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALLAGHER ARTHUR J & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000354190
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSURANCE AGENTS BROKERS & SERVICES [6411]
		IRS NUMBER:				362151613
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2850 GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			ROLLING MEADOWS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60008-4002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6307733800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2850 GOLF ROAD
		CITY:			ROLLING MEADOWS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60008-4002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-03-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001737644</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Mead Christopher E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2850 GOLF ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROLLING MEADOWS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60008-4002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (restricted)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5350</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>79.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-03-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-03-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2510</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>79.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2510</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5371.8</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock unit award vesting five years after the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">One-third of this stock option becomes exerciseable on each of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of Gallagher common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares represent awards under the Age 62 Plan, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan of the Company, which have been deemed invested in Company common stock at the election of the reporting person.  Participants vest in these awards when they attain age 62, or after a one-year period for participants who have attained age 61.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Seth Diehl, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
