Elias, an English antiquary of the seventeenth century, was the son of a saddler in Lichfield, and was born on the 23d of May 1617. He went to London at the age of 16, and resided in the family of his uncle, James Paget, Esq., one of the barons of the exchequer, and then turned his attention to the law and various branches of literature. In the year 1638 he married, and commenced the business of attorney in London. When the civil war began, being then a widower, he entered into the king's service in the ordnance department. When residing in the city of Oxford in that capacity, he entered Brazen Nose College, and began the study of natural philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. Naturally inclined to grave and scientific trifles, he wandered into the wilds of astrological imposture, which was not a little encouraged by several eminent men of that age. From the same cause he entered keenly into the secrets of masonry, and made considerable additions to the history of that fraternity. From Oxford he removed to Worcester, where he was appointed commissioner of the excise; and soon after he became a captain in Lord Ashley's regiment, and comptroller of the ordnance.

When Worcester was surrendered to the parliament in 1646, Ashmole retired to London, where he became acquainted with the famous astrologers, Moore, Lilly, and Booker. Having removed to Berkshire in the year following, he added the knowledge of botany to his other acquirements. There he became acquainted with Lady Mainwaring, a well-jointed widow, whom he married in 1649; and although her estate was sequestrated on account of his loyalty, yet through the interest of Lilly and others he again recovered it, and afterwards settled in London, where his house became the resort of all the curious literati. A taste for chemistry, or rather alchemy, was produced by his conversation with William Blackhouse; and Ashmole, under a feigned name, published a work upon that subject. The next effort of his industry was a collection of the manuscripts of English alchemy, which he published under the title of Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum, in 4to.

His active industry was next directed to the study of antiquity and the investigation of records. Along with Sir W. Dugdale, he traced about this period a Roman road to Lichfield. Abandoning all other pursuits, he began to make preparations for his History of the Order of the Garter. Upon a visit to Oxford, he gave a full description of the coins bequeathed to that university by Land; and about this time John Tradescant, the famous gardener of Lambeth, presented him with the collection of curiosities which both he and his father had procured.

On the Restoration, Ashmole came into high favour with the king, who made him Windsor herald, and employed him to give a description of the royal medals. The offices of commissioner and comptroller of excise were conferred upon him; and being called to the bar in the Middle Temple, he was afterwards admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. The university of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of doctor of physic; and several other employments and emoluments flowed in upon him. About this time his second wife died, and he married the daughter of his friend Sir W. Dugdale. In May 1662 he addressed his great work to the king, entitled The Institution, Laws, and Ceremonies of the most noble Order of the Garter; folio, London, 1672. In favour of his brother-in-law Mr Dugdale, he resigned his office of herald of Windsor; and when offered the office of garter king-at-arms, he declined it in favour of Sir W. Dugdale. About this time a fire broke out in one of the chambers of the temple adjacent to his, and consumed a library which he had been collecting during the course of 33 years, together with 9000 coins and many valuable antiquities; but his manuscripts and gold medals were fortunately saved. In 1683 he sent his manuscripts and curiosities to the University of Oxford, which laid the foundation of the Museum Ashmoleanum, still in Oxford. On the death of Sir W. Dugdale, he refused a second time the office which that gentleman had enjoyed. He died at the age of 76, and was interred in the church of Great Lambeth.