[1] Born in Plymouth on 12 August 1934,[2][1] the son of John and May, Eaton was educated initially at Sheerness Dockyard School[2] where he undertook apprenticeship as an electrician.
[1] He later attended Borden Grammar School and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he secured a BA in Mechanical Sciences Tripos.
[3][4] Eaton joined the Royal Navy in 1953, as a Special Entry Cadet (Electrical Branch)[2] and was confirmed as a sub-lieutenant in 1957.
[4] He then worked on the Defence Communications Network from 1971 to 1972 and then returned to the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment where he remained until joining the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in 1976.
[2] In 2004, Eaton was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sciences Degree from Aston University.