Eden was a younger son of Sir Robert Eden, 3rd Baronet, and was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.
ˈiːdən wʌzɐ jˈʌŋɡɚ sˈʌn ʌv sˌɜː ɹˈɑːbɚt ˈiːdən, θˈɜːd bˈæɹənˌɛt, ænd wʌz ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æɾ ˈiːtən ænd kɹˈaɪst tʃˈɜːtʃ, ˈɑːksfɚd.