Arthur Tedder was born on July 11, 1890 near Glascow Scotland. He went to Whitgift School and then Cambridge University.

Arthur Tedder served in both the Infantry and the Air Corps during World War I. Between the wars he served in the Royal Air Force. When World War II broke out, he was director of research and development for the Air Force. Tedder commanded the British Air Force in the Middle East from 1941 to 1943. Over the next two years, Tedder was the Deputy Commander of all Allied invasion forces.

After the war he commanded the British Air Corps. He later served as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.