Biography of Ernest Rutherford Ernest Rutherford was born at Bridgewater, close to Nelson, New Zealand. His parents had emigrated to New Zealand from Britain approximately 30 years earlier. Rutherford was a successful all-round student at school, though did not show any real interest in science. He entered Canterbury College at Christchurch, where his interest and ability for science developed and he graduated with first class degrees in science and mathematics. He stayed at Canterbury carrying out research, and developed a radio wave detector which relied upon the magnetic properties of iron. Having won a scholarship from Cambri