The elder son of William Ilott and his wife, whose maiden name was Cooper. His father had practised at Bromley in Kent, first in partnership with his uncle, who was born at Broadwell Grove, near Burford, Oxon, and afterwards independently. The younger son, James John, was a student at the London Hospital and afterwards became Medical Officer to the Whitechapel Infirmary. Edward Ilott was educated at St Bartholomew's Hospital and at the medical schools in Paris. He then returned to Bromley, where he was for many years Parish Medical Officer, Medical Officer to the Union Infirmary, and Public Vaccinator. For the last three or four years of his life he was also Medical Officer of Health for Bromley, and Medical Officer to the Joint Infectious Hospital or the Bromley and Beckenham Unions at Bromley Common. He married Hannah Julia Fennell in the Chapel of the College for the Widows of the Clergy at Bromley in 1859, and by her had Arthur, educated at Charing Cross Hospital (d1914); Percy, who took Holy Orders, becoming a schoolmaster; Julian, a National Provincial Bank manager; and Bessie, who married and went to Canada. Ilott died at his residence, 26 Tweedie Road, Bromley, Kent, on Sunday, September 18th, 1887, and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Plaistow, Bromley, Kent.