Ernest Cotton Deane (born 4 May 1887 and died 25 September 1915) was a medical officer of the British Indian Army. He was born in the city of Limerick, Ireland. He went to school in Dún Laoghaire (then called Kingstown) in County Dublin. Deane studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating in 1909. He played rugby for Ireland in one match, against England in February 1909. However, his rugby career was cut short after he broke his leg soon after in a game against Oxford University.