Educated at Exeter and at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He practised for many years at Exeter, where he was at one time Surgeon to the Dispensary and Medical Officer and Public Vaccinator for the Heavitree and St Leonard's Districts. Later he was Medical Officer to the Western District of the Exeter Incorporation, Hon Secretary to the South-Western Branch of the British Medical Association and to the Devon Poor Law Medical Officers' Association, Surgeon and Secretary to the Exeter Lying-in Charity, Surgeon to the Deaf and Dumb Institute and to the West of England Eye Infirmary. He either resided or practised at Monte Video, Uruguay, from 1883 till his death in about the year 1910. News of his decease did not reach the College till 1925. John Edye, who was Surgeon to the Devon and Exeter Hospital from 1846-1865, went to South America in the latter year "where he had some interests and where members of his family lived".