Edward Purcell was born about 1795 in County Laois, Ireland, and entered the Royal Navy 9 June 1808. In 1811 he was promoted Lieutenant and in 1820 became Commander of HMS Falmouth in the Leeward Islands, whilst on the West India station. In 1848 Purcell became Captain of HMS Superb, a two-deck 80-gun second rate ship, in the Mediterranean Fleet, where he continued until paid off into the reserve at Chatham in 1852.
He was promoted to Rear Admiral on the Reserved Half-pay list in 1855.
Edward and Frances Purcell had four sons and two daughters most of whom appear to have been born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.
The sons (with rank at the time of his death) were:
Edward Tobias Willoughby Purcell (Captain, Royal Artillery); the Rev Handfield Noel Purcell; George Joseph Purcell; Matthew Henry Purcell (Lieutenant, Royal Engineers).
The daughters were:
Grace Fleming (wife of the Rev James Fleming); Elizabeth Frances Rowan.
He died in 1870 while living at 13 Camden Crescent, Bath