Arthur entered the navy at age fifteen in July 1845. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 8 March 1854, and two years later in 1856, he acquired his first experience of command on the gunboat HMS Manly. On 4 June 1858 he was given command of the gunvessel HMS Algerine.
Arthur entered the navy at fifteen in July 1845. In March 1854, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and two years later, on August 1856, he gained his first commanding experience aboard the gunboat HMS Manly. On June 4, 1858, he took command of the gunvessel HMS Algerine.