J. J. Thomson

Born

Dec 18, 1856

J. J. Thomson was born on December 18, 1856, in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. He was the child of Joseph James Thomson and Emma Swindells. He only had one sibling, a younger brother.

Began College

1870

At the age of 14 J. J. Thomson started school at Owens College, which is now known as the University of Manchester. There he took experimental physics.

Attended Trinity College

1876

At the age of 20 he obtained a scholarship for Trinity University. There he got a B.A in mathematics and did experimental research. He came up with theories about electromagnetism.

Recognition and Achievement

1884

In 1884 Thomson received recognition from the scientific community and later on came his election as a fellow of the royal society.

Discovery of Electrons

1897

While experimenting Thomson came to the conclusion that all matter contains particles of the same kind that are much less massive. This is now known as electrons. He discovered this by using a cathode ray tube.

Noble Prize

1906

Thomson received a Nobel Prize in 1906 for his work in physics and for his researches into the electrical conductivity of gases.

Later life

1918

In 1918 he was made master of Trinity College. There he met his future wife Rose Elisabeth Paget and they had two kids. He remained the master at Trinity College until his death in 1940

Death

Aug 30, 1940

Thomson died in Cambridge on August 30, 1940 due to old age. ​He is buried in Westminster Abbey near two other influencers to science, Charles Darwin and Issac Newton.

Legacy

1941

J. J. Thomson made many contributions to the atom and because of his discovery of the atom it led to a new understanding of electricity and atomic particles. He made atomic physics a modern science and also contributed to our evolution of knowledge and discovery in the chemistry field.