Mr Ennis Hastings Watson was born at 50 Mountpottinger Road in Belfast, Ireland on 5 May 1893.

He was the son of James Watson (b. 1856), a shipwright, and Sarah Pyper (b. 1857), natives of east Belfast who had married on 27 August 1882.
Ennis was one of eight children and he grew up in east Belfast in a Church of Ireland household. His siblings were: Emily Annie (b. 11 May 1883), Eva Maud (b. 25 February 1885), Adeline (b. 18 November 1886), James Pyper (b. 16 December 1888), Winifred (b. 10 April 1891), William Gilbert (b. 10 September 1895) and Sidney Herbert (b. 9 March 1898).

The family lived for many years at 40 Mountpottinger Road in Belfast before moving to 50 Mountpottinger Road, perhaps shortly before Ennis was born. By 1898 the family home was 96 Bryson Street, Belfast.

On both the 1901 and 1911 census records the family were recorded living at 75 Madrid Street in Pottinger, Belfast. At the time of the latter record Ennis was described as an apprentice electrician. 

Before his apprenticeship at Harland & Wolff Watson had been educated at the Belfast Municipal Technical Institute since around 1907 where he first studied practical mathematics and art, followed by electronics. In examinations conducted by the Board of Education, London in 1908-1909, and by the City and Guilds of London Institute in 1909-1910 he was successful in obtaining awards. Prior to joining Titanic he had been attending classes in telephony and telegraphy. Contemporary media lauded over his promising future. 

No doubt excelling in his apprenticeship at Harland & Wolff, Ennis was one of the nine-strong "guarantee group" of Harland & Wolff employees chosen to oversee the smooth running of the Titanic's maiden voyage. 

Ennis Watson, like the rest of his counterparts, died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

The whereabouts of his family after the disaster remains uncertain.

Ennis Hastings Watson is remembered on the family headstone in Knockbreda Cemetery, Belfast, Ireland (section B, plot 144).