Edward Hawthorne was born in Belfast on the 22nd of March, 1886. He grew up in a city known for its shipbuilding, unfortunately his father died in a work accident so it was just him and his mother. By the time he was 10 he felt a deep sense of compassion to help others. This led him to study medicine. After years of demanding education and training he became a qualified doctor. He worked hard and earned a reputation as a skilled and careful physician. When the Great War began in 1914 he joined the medical service to care for the injured and ill. Eventually being assigned to the H.M.H.S Britannic.