The Honourable Edward Hyde, was born the only child of Henry, Viscount Cornbury & 2nd Earl of Clarendon (1638–1709) and Theodosia Capell (1640–1661), daughter of Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham, and sister of Arthur Capell.
Henry and Theodosia gave birth to Edward eleven months into their marriage.
Only three months after Edward's birth, in March 1662, his mother Theodosia died of smallpox.

The Hyde family had close ties to the monarchy: Edward's grandfather, also named Edward, was the 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674).
He was born a commoner but became an important advisor to King Charles I (after 1641) and to Charles II (after 1651).
He was best known for negotiating the Restoration of the English Monarchy in 1660 through a series of provisions known as the Clarendon Code.
The same year Charles II regained the throne, Clarendon's daughter, Anne Hyde (1637–1671), married the new king's younger brother & heir, James, Duke of York.
Meanwhile, Clarendon's eldest son, Henry, married into the Capells of Hadham, one of the richest families in England.
Edward's aunt Anne, Duchess of York was the mother of two English Queens, Mary II and Anne.

At age 13, Edward matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 23 January 1675.
Only a year earlier he had inherited the title Viscount Cornbury when his father succeeded as 2nd Earl of Clarendon.
Oxford was followed by three years at l'Academie de Calvin in Geneva.
The Honourable Edward Hyde, was born the only child of Henry, Viscount Cornbury & 2nd Earl of Clarendon (1638–1709) and Theodosia Capell (1640–1661), daughter of Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham, and sister of Arthur Capell. Henry and Theodosia gave birth to Edward eleven months into their marriage. Only three months after Edward's birth, in March 1662, his mother Theodosia died of smallpox.
The Hyde family had close ties to the monarchy: Edward's grandfather, also named Edward, was the 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674). He was born a commoner but became an important advisor to King Charles I (after 1641) and to Charles II (after 1651). He was best known for negotiating the Restoration of the English Monarchy in 1660 through a series of provisions known as the Clarendon Code. The same year Charles II regained the throne, Clarendon's daughter, Anne Hyde (1637–1671), married the new king's younger brother & heir, James, Duke of York. Meanwhile, Clarendon's eldest son, Henry, married into the Capells of Hadham, one of the richest families in England. Edward's aunt Anne, Duchess of York was the mother of two English Queens, Mary II and Anne.
At age 13, Edward matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 23 January 1675. Only a year earlier he had inherited the title Viscount Cornbury when his father succeeded as 2nd Earl of Clarendon. Oxford was followed by three years at l'Academie de Calvin in Geneva.
Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon