Ernest Rutherford By Kelcieroland Aug 30, 1871 Born date Oct 16, 1894 He won a scholarship To Cambridge University Oct 16, 1895 First research student At university of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory in London Jan 1, 1898 Discovered two types of rays Jan 1, 1899 Discovered a radioactive gas Oct 16, 1908 Won a nobel prize In transmulation of elements and the work of radioactive material Oct 16, 1917 Became a professor of experimental physics Jan 1, 1918 Discovered Protons Oct 19, 1937 Died Oct 16, 1997 Named in his honour A unit of radioactivity (ruftherford)