Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Coxe, was reportedly descended from a long line of medical and surgical ancestors, several of whom, at different periods, were physicians to the kings and queens of England.

[2] The Medical Museum debuted well, with papers contributed by well-regarded doctors, and existed until 1811, "paving the way for similar journals, while being itself the first uniformly issued periodical in Philadelphia".

[2] One source described Coxe as being "under the influence of earlier systems and became the most notable illustrator of the conservative teaching of an older time, though this in no way affected the good he did as the inaugurator of medical journalism".

[1] He invented "Coxe's Hive Syrup," Syrupus Scillae Compositus U.S.P., which "had a great vogue for half a century", and lectured to druggists and apothecaries until a sufficient number had been educated to form the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.

[2] Jalap, a cathartic drug derived from the tuberous roots of Ipomoea purga, had been known in Europe since the beginning of the 17th century, but its botanical source was not accurately determined until Coxe published his description.

[4] Despite his lengthy tenure as a professor, the University of Pennsylvania medical faculty "found the subject of materia medica and pharmacy to be of secondary interest" and "had little respect for Coxe's abilities as a teacher", leading to the termination of his teaching position in 1835.

In a letter written to an English friend, published in Thomas Thompson's Annals of Philosophy, Coxe wrote: I have contemplated this important agent (electricity) as a probable means of establishing telegraphic communications with as much rapidity as, and perhaps less expense than, any hitherto employed.

Edward married Mary Louisa, daughter of Louis Clapier, of Marseilles, France, and died in New Orleans, September 21, 1862.

[2] In addition to his medical writings, he also wrote extensively on theological questions, and he reportedly spoke and read nine languages, including Sanskrit.