eden was the eldest son of sir robert eden, 3rd baronet and his wife mary davison of beamish, county durham, and was born on 16 september 1740. he succeeded his father in the baronetcy on 25 june 1755. he was educated at eton college from 1755 to 1758 and at trinity college, cambridge in 1759. he married firstly catherine thompson daughter of john thompson of kirby hall, yorkshire on 26 june 1764 and secondly dorothea johnson, of york on 9 april 1767.