[1] He emigrated to Australia at the age of 16, and eventually entered politics, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1889 to 1894.

Nicknamed "Plorn",[2] Dickens was named after novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton and educated at Tunbridge Wells in Kent at a private school owned by the Reverend W. C. Sawyer, later Anglican bishop of Armidale and Grafton.

[4][2] Dickens was nominated for the seat of Wentworth at the 1882 by-election, but withdrew before the polls, won by fellow pastoralist Edward Quin.

He was then elected member for Wilcannia in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1889 and held the seat until he was defeated by Labor Party candidate Richard Sleath in 1894.

[3] Dickens then became a rabbit inspector for the Government of New South Wales, then an officer for the Lands Department in charge of the Moree district.