Background
He was born at Elveden Hall, Suffolk the sixth and youngest son of William Newton, Member of Parliament.
He was born at Elveden Hall, Suffolk the sixth and youngest son of William Newton, Member of Parliament.
He graduated from Magdelene College, Cambridge in 1857 and was one of the twenty founding members of the British Ornithologists" Union.
He was the brother of ornithologist Alfred Newton. Newton was the Colonial Secretary for Mauritius from 1859 to 1877. Edward was later Colonial Secretary and Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica.
She died in following year.
He is commemorated in the binomial of the Malagasy kestrel, Falco newtoni. Phelsuma edwardnewtoni, a species of gecko, is named in his honor.