Marconi was born in Bologna, Italy, on 25th April 1874. He was the second son of a runaway marriage between Giuseppe Marconi, the son of a wealthy land owner, and Annie Jameson, daughter of Andrew Jameson of the Irish Whiskey Company.

Marconi was initially educated, between the ages of five and seven, at a private school in Bedford. He went to school in Florence up to the age of fourteen and spent two years at the Leghorn Lyceum (Livorno). He also received private instruction in science from a tutor named Professor Rosa. Despite this, he did not gain the qualifications needed to enter either the University at Bologna, or the Naval Academy.

At the age of eighteen, after passing the examination that allowed him to delay his compulsory military service until the age of 26, he attended lectures at Bologna University by Righi and Dessau, by special arrangement.

Marconi married the Hon. Beatrice O' Brien in 1905. They had three children: daughter Degna, in 1908, son Guilio in 1910 and daughter Gioia in 1918.

In 1909 Marconi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

In 1914 Marconi was appointed a Senator in Rome. King George V awarded Marconi the honorary title of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Marconi and Hon. Beatrice O'Brien were divorced in 1924.

He later married Maria Christina Bezzi-Scali in 1927. Their daughter, Maria Elettra Elena Anna, was born in 1930.

Marconi moved to Rome in 1935, never to leave Italy again. He died in the early hours of 20 July 1937 and his body was laid to rest in the mausoleum in the grounds of Villa Griffone. Wireless stations throughout the world fell silent for 2 minutes in tribute.