Born in Longford, Van Diemen's Land, he was educated at Launceston Grammar School before becoming a shopkeeper, auctioneer and landowner.

[1][2] In 1901, Hartnoll contested the first federal election as a Free Trade candidate for the five-member Division of Tasmania, but was unsuccessful.

However, in 1902, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in a by-election for Tasmania resulting from the death of sitting Free Trade MP Frederick Piesse.

[3] In 1903, following the division of Tasmania into individual electorates, he contested the seat of Bass, but was defeated by the Protectionist candidate David Storrer.

This article about an Australian Free Trade Party politician is a stub.