[1][2] Born in Amelia County, Virginia,[3][4] Egan graduated from Emory and Henry College in 1845,[1][3] and gained admission to the bar shortly thereafter.
[3] He and his family moved to North Louisiana, where Egan "soon acquired a large practice in the Claiborne district".
[3] In 1857, Egan was elected as a district judge, defeating a popular opponent.
He was twice reelected, and after completing his final term returned to private practice.
[3] Egan died in New Orleans,[4] following a rapid decline in health, having previously improved from a period of poor health the previous summer.