Edward Follansbee Noyes graduated from Dartmouth College and attended law school, establishing a solid educational foundation. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War, rising to the rank of colonel and later being breveted as a brigadier general. After the war, Noyes transitioned to public service, becoming a city solicitor and later a probate judge. He was elected governor of Ohio, where he focused on coal mine inspection laws and fish conservation efforts. Noyes furthered his public service career by serving as Minister to France.

Edward Follansbee Noyes combines a background in military service with a focus on regulatory reforms and regional interests, as seen in his advocacy for stricter coal mine inspection laws. His unique ideological positioning is marked by an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, suggesting a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. Noyes's rhetorical style remains enigmatic, leaving one curious about the underlying motivations behind his policy stances.