He was born at 20 Charlotte Street in Leith, where his father lived and worked in his early days in Scotland.

[2] The family moved to Catherine Bank House on Newhaven Road as his father's fortunes increased.

Salvesen studied law at the University of Edinburgh, and was called to the Scottish Bar in 1880, becoming a Queen's Counsel in 1899.

[12] He was also created a Senator of the College of Justice and adopted the title of Lord Salvesen.

Edward T. Salvesen built his holiday home Risøbank Manor [no] in Mandal, in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.