Hezekiah Merricks Arnott was born 29 January 1870 at Burndyke Street, Govan to parents John Arnott, a Shipwright journeyman, and Margaret Miller who were married 16 April 1869 in Ardrossan.
Hezekiah went to Saltcoats Public School, after which he served an apprenticeship in a local grocer, before going to work at Coopers in Glasgow. Encouraged by his head teacher Edward Smith Wilson and his minister Rev. Dr. David Scott, Hezekiah began studying for the ministry, but was forced to give up his studies due to ill health. Upon his recovery he took up a position as manager of a grocery store owned by Charles Murchie in Ardrossan, before becoming a sales representative first for Mann, Summers & Co., and then for Lever Brothers, with whom he continued to work for the next 39 years until he retired at the end of 1934. A retiral dinner was held for him in the Central Hotel, Glasgow in February 1935 where he was presented with a grandmother clock and a writing bureau by his colleagues.
In 1900 he entered public life, becoming a Councillor with Saltcoats Town Council, and a member of Stevenston Parish Council and Stevenston School Board. He became a bailie in 1904 and a police judge in 1910. In 1912 he was elected Provost of Saltcoats Town Council but was forced to relinquish the post shortly afterwards when work demands meant that he had to relocate to Glasgow. During his time with the council he was Convener of the Shores and Improvements Committee which erected the bandstand in the public gardens at Melbourne Terrace and sandcastle competitions were held. He returned to Saltcoats during the first world war but did not rejoin the Council until 1935 after he had retired from work.
He was a member of Saltcoats Free Church, and later the Landsborough Church. He became a deacon and was later elected as an elder. He was Clerk of the Deacons’ Court, Congregational Treasurer and Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He was also a member of the Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society for forty-five years, of which he was president from 1899 to 1900.
Hezekiah was married twice. First to Elizabeth Howie Frew on 26 June 1896 with whom he had three sons: John Sinclair, Alexander Howie Frew and Hezekiah Merricks. Elizabeth died 14 April 1904 at Kyleshill, Saltcoats. He then married Susannah Willock Fullarton on 13 June 1913 in Blythswood, Glasgow with whom he had one son James Fullarton Arnott.
Hezekiah Merricks Arnott died Friday 03 December 1937 at his home, Ashgrove, Montgomerie Crescent, Saltcoats and was buried in Ardrossan Cemetery. His funeral was attended by members of Saltcoats Town Council and officials, members of the Constabulary, office-bearers of Landsborough Church and representatives of Lever Brothers as well as members of the Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society.
Of his children, his son Dr. Alexander Howie Frew Arnott formed a GP practice with Dr Alasdair Beaton in 1948 serving Ardrossan and Saltcoats; his son Rev. Merricks Arnott was minister of South Shawlands Church, Glasgow and his son James Fullarton Arnott was appointed Senior Lecturer at Glasgow University in 1962. In 1966 he was appointed Head of the Drama Department and was the first Professor of Drama (1973-1979). The Chair of Drama was renamed in his memory in 1996.