He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, and served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was a delegate to Continental Congress from Connecticut, 1787-88, a member of the Connecticut state house of representatives, 1789-90, a judge of United States District Court for Connecticut, 1806, a delegate to the Connecticut state constitutional convention, 1818.
He died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was interred at Grove Street Cemetery.
He was uncle of Aaron Burr, Theodore Dwight, and Timothy Dwight IV, and father of Henry Waggaman Edwards.