Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3. Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: William Munnings Arnold - correspondence, 1839-1875; with a draft of a speech and poems. (MLMSS 473); photographs in the PICMAN Database. IRN:425153 Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995: William Arnold was born on 26 October 1819 in Suffolk, England. Emigrating to Sydney in 1839, William Arnold invested heavily in land but made most of his wealth through gold speculation on the Mudgee goldfields. He married Ellen Smith on 9 November 1844 and they had three sons and six daughters. One of his sons, Richard Aldous Arnold, was Clerk of the Legislative Assembly between 1904 and 1916 Arnold's approach to electoral reform was considered radical at the time of his election to the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Durham in 1856. However, when re-elected to the Lower House as the Member for Paterson in 1859 the Electoral Law Amendment Act of 1858 had become law and incorporated some of Arnold's philosophies to electoral reform such as electoral districts based on population, manhood suffrage, and vote by ballot. Arnold's reputation for fairness was recognised when he was selected to become Chairman of Committees between 1858 and 1859. His Ministerial responsibilities included the portfolio as Secretary for Public Works between 1860 and 1863 and again between February and October 1865 and Secretary for Lands in October 1865. He held the position of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from November 1865 until 2 March 1875 when he drowned in floodwaters near his Stradbroke estate on the Paterson River. His objectivity and fairness as Speaker of the Lower House ensured that his decisions were seldom opposed by either the Government or the Opposition.