Edward was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He graduated with a degree in chemistry from Queen’s University in 1962, and moved to Manchester University (England) to the dental school as a junior faculty member in Dental Biomaterials. He spent some 30 years there, acquiring two research doctorates, and had two spells as a visiting faculty member at Northwestern University in Chicago. He is married to Isobel, whom he met in Manchester. They have two daughters and two grandchildren in England.
Edward was a licensed lay reader for 20 years in the Church of England, and then studied part time for ordination on the Northern Ordination Course (Manchester). He was ordained as a deacon and priest (1989 and 1990) by the bishop of Chester. He spent five years as a nonstipendiary (volunteer) minister in a parish in suburban Manchester, while continuing academic work.
In 1994 Edward and Isobel moved to Minnesota, as Edward took up a faculty position in the University of Minnesota. He retired fully from that position in December 2012, after 50 years in academic life.
He is a keen supporter of Manchester City (not United!) soccer club and manages to go to about three games per season when on vacation.