Clapton was the son of a sixteen-year-old , Patricia Clapton , and Edward Fryer , a Canadian soldier stationed in England . Eric Patrick Clapton was born in Ripley , Surrey , England , the son of 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapton ( b. 7 January 1929 ) and Edward Walter Fryer ( 21 March 1920 - 15 May 1985 ) , a 24-year-old soldier from Montreal , Quebec . Fryer shipped off to war prior to Clapton 's birth and then returned to Canada .