Constituency : Newark 1865-8
Arthur replaced John Handley at Newark.
Arthur was a brother of the Duke of Newcastle.Gladstone was his godfather. He was educated at Reading and Eton. He entered the navy in 1854 and served during the Baltic campaign of the Crimean War. He also served during the Indian Mutiny and was promoted to lieutenant in 1861.
Despite being elected as a Liberal Arthur had little regard to party and in 1866 was writing to Disraeli telling him "my ambition is to be in office". Arthur's only speech in the House was a long one supporting a general resolution on radical reform in Ireland.
Shortly before the 1868 election Arthur was declared bankrupt and had to resign his seat.
Arthur's travails didn't end there. He was living with a transvestite man named Ernest Boulton who described himself as "Lady Clinton" and showed of a "wedding ring". They also performed together in amateur dramatics with Boulton in female roles. In 1870 Boulton and another tranvestite William Park were charged with "conspiring and inciting persons to commit an unnatural offence". Arthur was one of those concerned.
Arthur died the day after receiving his subpoena aged 30. The official version was scarlet fever but was more likely to be suicide. There was some speculation at the time that his death was faked and he had gone abroad. Ironically Boulton and Park were acquitted. Twelve years later a woman was imprisoned for impersonating him on the basis of these rumours and obtaining money under false pretences.
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