Abbott was born on 21 November 1878.[1] He was educated at Fort Street High School in Sydney.[2] At the age of 15, he joined the New South Wales Customs Department as a clerk.[3] He entered the Commonwealth Public Service in the Department of Trade and Customs when the staff of his New South Wales department was taken over at Federation.
Between 1927 and 1933, Abbott served as Deputy Controller-General of Customs. In the role he traveled to London as adviser accompanying James Scullin to the Imperial Conference. He also traveled to Canada and the United States, and he helped to prepare the 1931 Canada-Australia trade agreement. In 1932 he attended the British Empire Economic Conference in Ottawa.[4]
He was promoted to the position of Controller-General of Customs in December 1933.[5] Whilst comptroller, Abbott travelled overseas on official business once more, visiting Canada and London again to discuss improvements to the agreements made in Ottawa in 1932.[4]
Abbott retired from the public service in 1944.[1]
Abbott died at his home in Darling Point, Sydney on 1 September 1947 while listening to the radio. He was survived by five daughters; his wife had died around three years prior.[2]