Acton Smee Ayrton (5 August 1816 – 30 November 1886) was a British barrister and Liberal Party politician.

[citation needed] Ayrton practised as a solicitor in Bombay, British India, and was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1853.

[2] He held office in William Ewart Gladstone's first administration as Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1868 to 1869 and as First Commissioner of Works from 1869 to 1873 and was sworn of the Privy Council in 1869.

After debates in both Houses of Parliament, Ayrton was transferred to the post of Judge Advocate General and the proposal failed.

It was installed in 1885 at the request of Queen Victoria so that she could see from Buckingham Palace when the members were sitting and named after Ayrton.