Arther was born in 1835 in Scotland, and joined the US Navy from Boston, Massachusetts in August 1861. He served during the Civil War as a signal quartermaster on the . During the Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862, he performed his duties as signal quartermaster and captain of the ship's bow gun "faithfully, effectively and valiantly". For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor the next year, on July 10, 1863, and was discharged from the Navy two weeks later.