[3] During World War II, Elliott served in the United States Navy from 1941 until he was discharged as a chief petty officer in 1945.

Elliott served as director of public relations of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia from 1950 to 1952.

He served as vice president of Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, from 1952 to 1960.

Elliott was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1956, and served until he was elected to the Eighty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard Simpson and served from April 26, 1960, until his death on June 19, 1960.

On June 19, 1960, Elliott killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in Horse Valley, Pennsylvania.