Lord Jon Arryn was a Lord of the Eyrie, a fortress located within the Vale of Arryn. He was the husband of Lysa Tully and the father of Robert Arryn.
Lord Jon warded Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon when both boys were young and become a father figure to them. Eventually, he became the King's Hand of Robert. His death is perhaps the event that began the entire series, as it indirectly caused the death of Eddard Stark and therefore the War of the Five Kings.
At the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Catelyn Stark receives word from her sister Lysa that Jon was murdered, and Eddard is called on by King Robert to replace him. When Ned moves to King's Landing, he begins to investigate Jon Arryn's death, which leads him to the discovery of Robert's illegitimate children and eventually the truth that Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen Baratheon are not Robert's children. This eventually leads to Ned's imprisonment and execution after Robert dies.
At the end of A Storm of Swords, Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark have moved to the Eyrie, with Sansa in hiding pretending to be Petyr's illegitimate daughter. While there, they meet Lysa and Robert Arryn, and it is revealed that Lysa is in love with Petyr, who always showed more affection for Catelyn Stark. In the last chapter of the book, Sansa learns that it was Lysa who killed Jon Arryn so she could be with Petyr. Just after this is revealed, Petyr throws Lysa out of the Moon Door to her death.