Edward was born in Deane, Hampshire, the third of eight children born to Rev. George Austen and Cassandra Leigh.
He married Elizabeth Bridges (1773-1808) on 27 December 1791, and together they had eleven children, Fanny Catherine (1793-1882) (one of Jane Austen's favourite nieces[REF]), Edward (1794-1879), George Thomas (1795-1867), Henry (1796-1843), Reverend William (1798-1873), Elizabeth (1800-1884), Marianne (1801-1896), Charles (1803-1867), Louisa (1804-1889), Cassandra Jane (1806-1842) and Brook John (1808-1878) [REF].