Edward Chaplin was born on 21 February 1951, the son of James and Joan Chaplin. He was educated at Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, taking 1st Class Honours in Oriental Studies in 1973. In 1983, he married Nicola Helen Fisher, having one son and two daughters.

Chaplin entered the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1973 and his diplomatic career included the following postings: Muscat [Oman], 1975–77; Brussels [Belgium], 1977–78; Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Paris [France], 1978–79; on secondment to CSD as Private Secretary to Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords, 1980–81; FCO, 1981–84; Head of Chancery, Tehran [Iran], 1985–87; FCO, 1987–89; on secondment to Price Waterhouse Management Consultants, 1990–92; Deputy Permanent Representative, UKMIS Geneva, 1992–96; Head, Middle East Department, FCO, 1997–99; Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 2000–02; Director, Middle East and North Africa, FCO, 2002–04; Ambassador to Iraq, 2004–05; Ambassador to Italy, 2006–11.