J. C. AELIAN COREA was born in 1904 to Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea and his wife Frances Eleanor Terentia Ameresekera. He was one of ten children and attended Royal College, Colombo. Aelian went on to study at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He obtained his Master of Arts (MA) Degree in Psychology from the University of London, and taught at Kingswood College, Kandy and Wesley College, Colombo. 

In 1943, Aelian became the Vice-Principal of Royal College, Colombo where he was educated in his early life. Three years later, he became the first Ceylonese Principal of Royal College, as the successor to Principal Bradby. He remained in this post until 1953. J. C. A. Corea was appointed Education Officer of the Sri Lankan High Commission (UK) where he served as a diplomat for several years.

Aelian Corea spent the final years of his life in the north of London, England in Muswell Hill. He passed away in 1988, and his ashes were taken to Sri Lanka in the company Vernon Corea, the son of Aelian's sister Ouida. Aelian married and divorced but had no children.