Archibald Scott was born in Belfast, Ireland (possibly on Fourth Street) around 1865.¹

Hailing from a Church of Ireland family, he was the son of John Scott (1825-1902), a linen bleacher, and Annie McAtee (1835-1910), natives of Co Down and Antrim, respectively who were married on 4 August 1852.

He had eight known siblings: Jane (b. 8 September 1852), Annie (b. 22 March 1858; d. 1896, later Mrs Arthur McGaughey), Catherine (b. 8 January 1860), Solomon (b. 1862), William (b. 23 June 1864), John (b. 10 June 1867), Patrick (b. 5 April 1870), Joseph (b. circa 1872) and James (b. 4 August 1874). The family lived for many years on Ashmore Street, located between the Falls and Shankill Roads in west Belfast. 

Archibald, described as a labourer, was married in St Stephen's Church on Belfast's Shankill Road on 15 April 1895 to Martha Anderson (b. circa 1866 in Edinburgh, Scotland, daughter of labourer John Anderson); their respective addresses were given as 19 Ashmore Street and 28 Ninth Street, both in Belfast. The couple, who were illiterate, appear to have remained childless.

When Scott first went to sea remains unknown; he first appears on record in May 1898 when he was a fireman aboard the Dominion. By May 1910, he was a fireman aboard Jarnac, his ship prior to that being the Baltic. 

On the 1901 census of Ireland, Archibald is absent, but his wife is listed as living at 103 Conway Street, West Belfast and her profession is listed as a reeler in a mill, perhaps Conway Mill, which was adjacent to Conway Street at the time. She was listed as a member of the Church of Ireland. On the 1911 census, Archibald was again absent, but his wife is still listed as a linen reeler and now living at 262 Conway Street, Belfast. His younger brother Joseph, of 156 Conway Street, ran a public house.

When Archibald signed on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 he gave his address as 3 Lower Ditches, Southampton (a lodging address) and an 'X' against his name. His previous ship was the Inishowen and as a fireman, he could expect monthly wages of £6.

Archibald Scott was lost in the Titanic disaster and his body, if recovered, was never identified. He is remembered on the Titanic Memorial at Belfast City Hall.

Archibald's widow Martha later successfully sued Ismay, Imrie and Company Ltd and received £237, 12s for the loss of her husband. She remained living in Conway Street, Belfast and died on 27 October 1929; she is buried in Dundonald Cemetery.