Background
Upon the death of his father, Arnot became engaged in banking in Elmira.
United States representative politician
Upon the death of his father, Arnot became engaged in banking in Elmira.
Born in Elmira, New York, Arnot was educated at private schools in his native city.
He entered Yale College, but left before graduation to enter business. He served as president of the village from 1859 to 1864, and as president of the board of trustees of the village of Elmira in 1859, 1860, and 1864. During the Civil War Arnot served as Army paymaster with the rank of major in Elmira.
When the village was chartered as a city, he was elected mayor in 1864, 1870, and 1874.
He declined the proffered nomination as Democratic candidate for Congress in 1882, but accepted nomination at a subsequent convention. Arnot was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth Congress as Representative for New York"s twenty-ninth district.
And the Forty-ninth Congress as Representative for New York"s twenty-eighth district. He served from March 4, 1883, until his death.
Arnot died in Elmira, Chemung County, New York, November 20, 1886 (age 55 years, 254 days).
He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New New York Arnot was an active communicant at Trinity Church (Elmira, New York). She was the wife of William Butler Ogden, and she was also the major benefactor of the Arnot Ogden Hospital in Elmira.