Born in Hillsdale, New York, Hamlin attended the district school of Hillsdale, New York, and a private school in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He pursued an academic course in Hudson, New York. He subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1831 and commenced practice in Elyria, Ohio. He served as prosecuting attorney of Lorain County from 1833-1835.

Hamlin was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry R. Brinkerhoff and served from October 8, 1844, to March 3, 1845. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1844.

He then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1844 and engaged in the newspaper business, establishing the True Democrat (now The Plain Dealer) in 1846. He served as member of the Free Soil Convention at Buffalo in 1848. He served as president of the board of public works 1849-1852.

He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1856, and was the attorney for the Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Lafayette Railroad for many years.

He moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1884 to supervise his extensive land holdings at Newport News.

He died in Washington, D.C., November 23, 1894 and was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg.

• United States Congress. "Edward S. Hamlin (id: H000120)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Edward S. Hamlin at Find a Grave

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress