Ernest Charles Manning was born on September 20, 1908, at Carnduff, Saskatchewan, to George H. Manning and Elizabeth M. Dickson. Ernest Manning began his education at Glen Payne School near Rosetown, Saskatchewan. He enrolled as a student at the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute in 1927. After graduating, he became secretary of the Institute in 1930. In 1930, he also began speaking on the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute's radio broadcasts with William Aberhart. After the death of Premier William Aberhart in 1943, he continued these broadcasts on his own.

Ernest C. Manning was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the general election of 1935 as a member of the Social Credit Party in the electoral district of Calgary. In September and October of the same year, he was appointed Provincial Secretary and Minister of Trade and Industry, respectively. He served in these capacities from 1935 to 1943.

When the Second World War began, Manning joined the 2nd Reserve Battalion, Edmonton Regiment, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in September 1942, and later captain. He discontinued his military duties when he was appointed Premier of Alberta on May 31, 1943.

During his twenty-five year tenure as Premier, Ernest Manning also held various cabinet positions. From 1944 to 1954, he was Provincial Treasurer; from 1952 to 1962, he was Minister of Mines and Minerals; and from 1955 to 1968, he was Attorney General. During the years 1940 to 1968, he was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta eight consecutive times. From 1940 to 1959, he represented the multi-Member electoral district of Edmonton, and from 1959 to 1968, he represented Strathcona East.

In 1967, Manning's book Political Realignment: a Challenge to Thoughtful Canadians appeared. The book outlined his views regarding the reorganization of the Canadian federal party system.

Effective December 12, 1968, Ernest C. Manning resigned as Premier, and later the same month, he resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. In 1970, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada where he served until 1983.

Following his retirement from the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Manning was Chair of M and M Systems Research Ltd. and served on the Board of Directors of a number of major companies. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Canada West Foundation. Manning also received various honours: Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Alberta (1948); Honorary Chief (“Bull Shield”) of the Kainai Nation (1951); member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (1967); Honorary Doctor of Laws, McGill University (1967); Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Calgary (1967); Companion of the Order of Canada (1969); Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Lethbridge (1972); first Member of the Order of Excellence of Alberta (1981); National Humanitarian Award, B’nai B’rith Canada (1982); and Honorary Doctor of Athabasca University (1985).

On April 14, 1936, Manning married Muriel Aileen Preston, the pianist at the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute. Muriel and Ernest Manning had two children: William Keith and Ernest Preston. Ernest C. Manning died in Calgary, Alberta on February 19, 1996 and was buried in the Garden of Christus in Eden Brook Memorial Gardens, Calgary.