Born in Montreal in 1849.Henrietta was raised in an affluent, cultured and religious family, her first public mention was when she joined the women's movement, becoming actively involved in different religious organizations and coming face-to-face with the injustices of old traditions, where the exclusion of women was widely accepted.

She and her sister, Amelia, founded a group called the "Working Girl's Association." It is now called the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). Henrietta and Amelia also started the first magazine for working women, which was edited by the sisters. It was titled simply, The Working Woman of Canada. Henrietta herself financed the magazine. She raised money for it by selling the paintings and miniatures, which she learned to create while studying arts in Canada, United States and Europe. While in Montreal, Henrietta Muir met a man named Dr. Oliver C. Edwards. They were married. After Henrietta and Oliver had three children, they moved to Saskatchewan. Upon arrival, Henrietta Edwards became even more interested in suffrage, and became increasingly involved in feminist organizations.

In 1893, Henrietta Muir Edwards, together with Lady Aberdeen, founded the National Council of Women, and for nearly 35 years served as chair for Laws Governing Women and Children. Also in collaboration with Lady Aberdeen, she founded the Victorian Order of Nurses and was appointed chairs of the Provincial Council of Alberta, serving in this capacity for many years.

In 1927, Henrietta Edwards became part of the "Famous Five" with Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby. When Henrietta Edwards joined the Famous Five, she was a large help to the group because of her determination to put suffrage to a halt and her vast knowledge with politics. (Prison reform was one of her chief interests).While Emily Murphy was the driving force at the front, Henrietta did what she did best the practical research, the letter writing and the keeping of things on an even keel.

It was not until October 18, 1929, after taking their cause to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, that a reversal of the Supreme Court decision granted Canadian women the right to be appointed to the Senate. By joining the "Famous Five," Henrietta Muir Edwards brought to the cause of "women not officially recognized" her determination, extensive knowledge of the Canadian legal system and the prestige of having fought so many battles aimed at redefining the position of women in Canadian society. Henrietta wrote The Legal Status of Women in Alberta, in 1921. She passed away in Ft. Macleod, Alberta on Nov. 10, 1931 at the age of 82.
 

A quote from Henrietta herself:

This decision marks the abolition of sex in politics.... Personally I do not care whether or not women ever sit in the Senate, but we fought for the privilege for them to do so. We sought to establish the personal individuality of women and this decision is the announcement of our victory. It has been an uphill fight.

--Henrietta Muir Edwards