Edward Hurlburt was born on July 8, 1849, in Utica, New York.

He was a lawyer and amateur naturalist. He was also dealing in real estate in connection with his law business. He served on a Board of Directors of the Railroads Corporation of the State of New York. He was a member of the American Bible Society and was interested in collecting flora specimens of New York.

In 1878, he married Elizabeth Norton Smith (1847–1928). He died on May 10, 1933, in Utica, New York.

Edward P. Hurd received his M.D., C.M. from McGill in 1865. He practiced in Danville, Quebec until 1870, when he moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was a member of the Newburyport School Committee and director of the public library for 7 years. He was appointed city physician in 1871 and remained city physician until 1885. He became district medical examiner for the district of Essex in 1893.

He wrote extensively for the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, the Medical Age of Detroit and the Therapeutic Gazette of Philadelphia. He also translated French and German medical works.