A Catholic, he studied at St. Mary's College, Oscott (as did his brothers Ambrose (a JP), Everard (awarded VC), Osmund, Francis, Rudolph and Gerard), where he was awarded a Good conduct medal in 1872. Apart from being MP for Mid-Leicestershire he also held office as Leicestershire's Deputy Lieutenant.
Edwin de Lisle spent all his life in Leicestershire, living at Charnwood Lodge with his wife, Agnes Henrietta Ida Hope, and their eight children.
A stained-glass window dedicated to his memory is located on the East side of Arundel Cathedral.