E. S. Emerson was educated at Nell's School, Carlton, Melbourne. He joined the
Brisbane Courier and served as a sub-editor. Emerson also did freelance writing for the Sydney
Bulletin, the
Lone Hand, the
Sydney Mail and other journals. From August to November 1909 he edited the
Port Denison Times before moving to Perth where he edited the
West Australian Worker. His father was a first cousin of Ralph Waldo Emerson.