Ernest Walton was born 6 October 1903, the son of Reverend J. A. Walton and Anne Elizabeth (formerly Sinton). He was educated at the Methodist College, Belfast, Trinity College, Dublin and Cambridge University.

From 1927-34, Walton worked at the Cavendish Laboratories in Cambridge, firstly as the holder of the 1851 Overseas Research Scholarship, then from 1930-34 with the Senior Research Award of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; he was also the Clerk Maxwell Scholar, 1932-1934. In 1934 he returned to Ireland as Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, from 1934-74 (Fellow Emeritus 1974), and Erasmus Smith's Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy 1947-74.

Walton's awards include: Honorary Life Member, RDS, 1981; Honorary FIEI 1985; Honorary FInstP 1988; Honorary DSc: QUB, 1959; Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota, USA, 1975; Ulster, 1988. Honorary PhD Dublin City University, 1991. Awarded Hughes Medal by Royal Society, 1938; (with Sir John Cockcroft) Nobel Prize for Physics, 1951.

In 1934, Walton married Winifred Isabel Wilson (who died 1983); they had two sons and two daughters.

Publications: Papers on hydrodynamics, nuclear physics and micro-waves.