John Joseph Thomson was born on December 18th, 1856 in Cheetham Hill, in the Victorian era of the United Kingdom. His father was an antiquarian bookseller. Thomson’s early education was invested in small private schools, where he was shown to be heavily interested in science. He attended Owens College in Manchester at the young age of 14, but two years later when his father died his family couldn’t afford for him to continue studying engineering. So, he got scholarships for physics, chemistry, and mathematics. At 16 he won a scholarship to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Graduating in mathematics in 1880, Thomson went on to work at the Cavendish Laboratory, and four years later became a professor there. His first research was related to vortex rings, the idea that atoms existed as vortex rings in the ‘ether’. Later proven to be untrue, it still led Thomson to study cathode rays. Thomson studied cathode rays, which were particles that traveled through cathode ray tubes, and on April 30th, 1897, presented his findings. He studied the electron to determine whether cathode rays were charged particles or something else in the ‘ether’.
Thomson also helped further research with isotopes by studying ‘canal rays’, or positively charged particles. He earned the Nobel Prize in 1906, and was knighted in 1908 and received the Order of Merit in 1912. A highly accomplished physicist, J.J. Thomson continued his research until his death on August 30th, 1940 in Cambridge, England.
Graduating in mathematics in 1880, Thomson went on to work at the Cavendish Laboratory, and four years later became a professor there. His first research was related to vortex rings, the idea that atoms existed as vortex rings in the ‘ether’. Later proven to be untrue, it still led Thomson to study cathode rays. Thomson studied cathode rays, which were particles that traveled through cathode ray tubes, and on April 30th, 1897, presented his findings. He studied the electron to determine whether cathode rays were charged particles or something else in the ‘ether’.
Thomson also helped further research with isotopes by studying ‘canal rays’, or positively charged particles. He earned the Nobel Prize in 1906, and was knighted in 1908 and received the Order of Merit in 1912. A highly accomplished physicist, J.J. Thomson continued his research until his death on August 30th, 1940 in Cambridge, England.