Edgar Tarry Adams was born on 8 December 1852 and educated at Denmark Hill Grammar School before training at the City of London Brewery. In 1876, Edgar's father purchased the brewery of Stanton, Gray and Co. at Halstead, Essex, which Edgar eventually took over. He was interested in nautical matters all his life and owned several private yachts, with an extensive collection of navigational instruments. In 1897 he was elected an Associate of the Institution of Naval Architects and, in 1900, was admitted to Downing College as a Fellow Commoner, studying physics under Rev. T. C. Fitzpatrick, geology under Professor Hughes and astronomy under Sir Robert Ball. In 1907 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society and Royal Astronomical Society. He was a keen amateur photographer, documenting village life, family, boat-building and landscapes. He was also prominent in local affairs, founding the Halstead Science and Art Club and a branch of the Boys’ Naval Brigade. On the outbreak of war, he was appointed Naval Recruiting Officer for Halstead and district and, in 1917, he was granted an honorary commission as a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. He died at Halstead on 29 July 1926.