Mr Arthur Hayter was born in Mortlake, Surrey, England on 3 August 1867 and was baptised on 29 September that same year.

His parents were Frederick Hayter (1827-1917), a grocer, and Mary Ann Millard (1829-1917). His father was a native of Bagshot, Surrey and his mother hailed from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and they were married in Kingston in 1855.

One of ten children, Arthur's siblings were: Mary Ann (b. 1855), Fredrick (b. 1857), Laura (b. 1859), Walter (b. 1861), Florence (b. 1863), Emily (b. 1865), George Herbert (b. 1870), Sarah Louise (b. 1872) and Ada Jane (b. 1874).

Arthur first appears on the 1871 census as a resident at 199 High Street, Mortlake and he was enrolled in St Stephen's Parochial School in Hammersmith, London in January 1876. By the time of the 1881 census the family are resident at 2 Cambridge Cottage, Mortlake and Arthur is still described as a schoolboy.

The 1891 census records Arthur as a lodger at 84 Strand Road, Bootle, Lancashire and he is described as a ship's steward. Exactly when he went to sea is not clear but the earliest known record for him is in 1889 when he was serving aboard City of New York. He later began a long association with the White Star Line and spent the latter part of the 1890s and the very early 1900s working aboard Majestic. He then spent several years, until at least 1904, working aboard Cedric.

He would marry on 19 September 1891 in Holy Trinity Church, Richmond, Surrey to Amelia Harber (b. 4 August 1866), a native of Homerton, London. The couple made their home in Liverpool and although Arthur is absent his wife and family are shown on the 1901 census living at 17 Gloucester Road, West Derby.

He and his wife had three children: Harry Cornelius (1893-1944), Cyril Arthur (1895-1980) and Percival Frederick (1898-1959).

Although not certain it is possible that Hayter and his family moved to Southampton around 1907 to coincide with the White Star Line's shift of its main terminal from Liverpool to that city. They are shown on the 1911 census living at 10 Mayflower Road, Shirley and it is specified that he was a steward for the White Star Line. His youngest son Percival was still a schoolboy whilst his eldest was a tailor's apprentice. His middle son Cyril was also a steward for the White Star Line.

Arthur first signed-on to the Titanic in Belfast on 1 April 1912 and made the delivery trip to Southampton. When he signed again on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 10 Mayflower Road and stated that his previous ship was the Olympic. As a first class steward Arthur received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Arthur Hayter died in the sinking. His body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#25) and after his effects were listed he was buried at sea on 21 April 1912

Arthur's widow Amelia never remarried following the Titanic disaster. She remained in Hampshire and died in Fareham on 4 July 1926. His three sons also remained in Hampshire and his Cyril continued to work at sea; he was Arthur's last surviving child and died in Southampton on 2 July 1980.