Edward was born on the 13th of November 1891, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was appointed to the US Naval Academy and graduated at the rank of Ensign in July of 1912. For the next two years, Edward served on board four ships before being assigned to the USS Prairie (AD-5). He was sent ashore during the Mexican Campaign and it was his actions in Vera Cruz that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. Posted on the roof of the Terminal Hotel and landing, Ens. McDonnell established a signal station there day and night, maintaining communication between troops and ships. At this exposed post he was continually under fire. One man was killed and three wounded at his side during the two days' fighting. He showed extraordinary heroism and striking courage and maintained his station in the highest degree of efficiency. All signals got through, largely due to his heroic devotion to duty.

After the conflict, Edward attended aeronautical instruction at the Wright Company in Dayton, Ohio, followed by flight training a the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. In March of 1915, he became a Naval Aviator and stayed at Pensacola as an instructor, soon promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Edward was stationed at Naval Air Station Huntington Bay in Long Island, New York, and was moved to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington DC during World War 1. He also took part in air campaigns in France and Italy during the war and afterwards, Edward became the first man to fly a plane off a battleship. It was a Sopwith Camel, a British, single-seat, biplane that took off of the USS Texas on the 10th of March 1919. By May of 1944, he had been promoted to Rear Admiral and was in command of the USS Long Island and by December of 1945, he transferred from active duty and was on the reserve retired list six years later that the rank of Vice Admiral.

On the 6th of January 1960, Edward had boarded National Airlines flight 2511 that was leaving New York City and was heading to Miami, Florida. He and the other 28 passengers and five crew members would not make it to Miami when the plane exploded over Bolivia, North Carolina. To this day, it is unknown what or who caused the explosion and the Civil Aeronautics Board simply concluded that the plane was brought down by a dynamite explosion in the passenger cabin, near row number seven. The FBI took control of the investigation and remains unsolved and open. Edward Orrick McDonnell was 68 years old when he died and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery: Section 2, Grave 4955-4. His wife, Helen, survived him along with their daughter Elizabeth. Their son Edward Jr was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Forces during World War 2 and was listed as missing in action in 1944.