Arthur Michael Samuel was born in Norwich in 1872, the eldest son of Benjamin Samuel of Norwich and Rosetta, eldest daughter of Philip Haldinstein of Norwich, and was educated at Norwich Grammar School.

He was the Assistant to Director of Army Contracts at the War Office, 1914-15, and Staff Assistant, the Ministry of Munitions, 1915-16. He subsequently served as the Unionist MP for the Farnham Division of Surrey, 1918-37; as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade and Minister for Department of Overseas Trade, 1924-27; and Financial Secretary to HM Treasury, 1927-29. He was Lord Mayor of Norwich, 1912-13 and received the Honorary Freedom of the City in 1928.

He published: "Life of Giovanni Battista Piranesi"; "The Working of the Bill of Exchange with an Explanation of the Overseas Trade Balance"; "The Herring: its Effect on the History of Britain"; and "The Mancroft Essays".

Samuel was created a Baronet in 1932, subsequently being elevated to become 1st Baron Mancroft. He died in August 1942