The family lived at Brigden Place in Bexley in Kent and Arbuthnot was educated at Rugby School.
[2] After leaving school Arbuthnot spent an extended time in India on business working for the family firm as well as working in England as a coffee broker.
[2][4][3] The firm failed "spectacularly" in 1906, although Arbuthnot was wealthy enough to continue to live in London without needing to work.
[5] Arbuthnot died suddenly of heart failure in 1917 aged 64 leaving an estate worth over £14,000.
His nephew, Hugh Spottiswoode, also played two first-class matches for Kent.