Edward Kay was probably the son of Joseph Kay and he was baptised on 13 July 1769 at Nether Chapel, Norfolk Street. In 1800 he married Ann Sykes, the daughter of J. Sykes, a Sheffield silver cutler. One of his first business ventures may have been in partnership with Jonathan Marshall and Thomas Shaw as edge tool and saw makers. The partnership was dissolved in 1792. A later partnership, this time as cutlers and factors with Samuel Stanley and Francis Lister, was dissolved in 1807.

Kay appears in a Sheffield trade directory for the first time in 1811, being listed as a merchant in Norfolk Street. Subsequent directories show him in Cheney Square and again in Norfolk Street before Baines’ 1822 directory lists him as a factor with premises in New Church Street. However, by now he was bankrupt. In December 1821 the stock of his warehouse was advertised for sale. It included 514 dozen pocket knives, 600 dozen pen knives and 640 dozen sportsmen’s knives as well as other knives, razors, scissors and ironmongery, drapery and household items. In February 1822, the sale followed of houses in Balm Green and property and land in Rotherham.

Kay appears to have been discharged from bankruptcy and in the 1825 trade directory was a merchant and table knife manufacturer at 37 Howard Street. Success may have been brief as the sale of ‘Freehold dwellinghouse, workshops and premises situate in Howard Street, Sheffield, lately in the occupation of Mr. Edward Kay’ was advertised in January 1832. In March 1832 Kay appeared before the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors.  The Census (1841) recorded Edward Kay, age 70, as a resident at the Shrewsbury Hospital ( a charity for poor pensioners of the Town). Kay died on 29 October 1845 at the Shrewsbury Hospital, aged 76.