Edward Lloyd was born on November 15, 1744 in Easton, Maryland, United States. He was the eldest son of Edward Lloyd, III, and Ann (Rousby) Lloyd and was descended from an Edward Lloyd who emigrated to Lower Norfolk, Virginia, in 1623 and later moved to Maryland.
Nothing definite is known of his formal training .
His public service, which began with his election in 1771 as burgess for Talbot County, continued under provincial, state, and federal governments until his death. He was elected because of his acknowledged hostility to Gov. Robert Eden's proclamation, fixing fees of certain officers in opposition to legislative desires. He naturally joined in a remonstrance to the governor, protesting against the usurpation of legislative prerogative. The election of 1773 returned him to his seat, which he held till the overthrow of the colonial government. Lloyd was made a member of the Committee of Correspondence for Talbot County to attend a gathering of similar committees at Annapolis in June 1774. This body created the responsible Council of Safety, of which Lloyd was made a member, charged with executive control during legislative adjournment. It also authorized an election of delegates to a convention to be held at Annapolis. Although Lloyd was not originally returned to this body, he took his seat in January 1776 after the expulsion of one of the members.
He was returned to the lower house at the first election held under the new state constitution and there elected early in 1777, by joint legislative ballot, to the executive council, a post to which he was twice successively reelected. In November 1779, when the Assembly balloted for governor, Lloyd was defeated by Thomas Sim Lee. After one more year of service in the lower house, he was chosen in 1781 by the state electoral college senator for the Eastern Shore, winning reelection at the end of his five-year term and again in 1791, though he did not live to complete his third term. He had already rendered national service by acting as one of the two Maryland delegates in the Congress of the Confederation during 1783-1784, participating in the vote on the peace treaty with Great Britain.
About 1767 Lloyd had settled down to the management of his vast landed estate at "Wye House". The burning and looting of "Wye House" late in the war has usually been ascribed to a military expedition from the British fleet, but may well have been the act of a predatory band. The despoiled owner lost no time in erecting an imposing mansion near the original site and also erected a town house in Annapolis for his greater comfort during legislative sessions. In view of his monetary interests his public activities may be regarded as indicating real public spirit.
As a delegate from Talbot County in the state convention, Lloyd voted for the ratification of the new federal Constitution.
He was a member of the Maryland Jockey Club.
He lived a life of splendor and of lavish hospitality, ordering luxuries prodigally from London--clothes, wines, plate, coaches, a pleasure-boat--and maintaining a large deer-park for his guests' pleasure.
Lloyd married Elizabeth Tayloe of Virginia on November 19, 1767. His son, also Edward Lloyd, was later Governor of Maryland, and a U. S. Senator.
