Arthur Barnett Clark was born on August 3, 1888, in Newton, Mississippi.[1][2][3] He was the son of Civil War Confederate veteran William Andrew Clark and Mary Elizabeth (Nichols) Clark.[1] Arthur was educated in the public schools of Newton County and graduated from the Newton high school.[1][2] He then attended the University of Mississippi, graduating with a A. B. in 1912.[1][2] He then received a LL. B. cum laude from the university in 1914.[1][2] He was admitted to the bar in 1914 and in June, he began practicing law in Indianola.[1][2] He was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing Sunflower County as a Democrat, in 1915 for the 1916–1920 term.[1][2][4] He fought in the United States Army during World War I as a commissioned officer until being discharged as a major in December 1918.[1] He was re-elected to the House in 1919 for the 1920–1924 term.[1][2] During this time period, he was also partners in a law firm with former Mississippi Legislator Samuel D. Neill.[2] He died of a heart attack on March 3, 1968, in a car wash in Indianola.[3][5] He had last resided in Indianola.[3][5]