J. J. Thomson

J. J. Thomson - Nobel Prize Winner, Timeline and Facts

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J. J. Thomson's Personal Details

J.J

InformationDetail
BirthdayDecember 18, 1856
Died onAugust 30, 1940
NationalityBritish
FamousCambridge University, Trinity College, Cambridge, University Of Manchester, Scientists, Physicists, Nobel Prize Winner
SpousesRose Elisabeth Paget
SiblingsFrederick Vernon Thomson
Known asSir Joseph John Thomson
ChildrensGeorge Paget Thomson
Universities
  • Cambridge University,Trinity College, Cambridge,University Of Manchester
  • University of Cambridge
  • Trinity College
  • Cambridge
  • University of Manchester
  • Victoria University of Manchester
Notable Alumnis
  • Cambridge University
  • Trinity College
  • Cambridge
  • University Of Manchester
Discoveries / Inventions
  • Electrons And Isotopes And Inventing The Mass Spectrometer
Birth PlaceManchester, Lancashire, UK
ReligionAnglican/Episcopalian
GenderMale
FatherJoseph James Thomson
MotherEmma Swindells
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inManchester, Lancashire, UK
Famous asPhysicist, Nobel Prize Winner
Died at Age83

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J. J. Thomson's photo

Who is J. J. Thomson?

J.J. Thomson was an English physicist and mathematician. Thomson was a child prodigy who first went to college at the age of 14 and continued his progression to become one of the most gifted scientists of his generation. Thomson became the Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Cambridge at a very young age but he made his greatest achievement when he did a detailed study of cathode rays and proved the existence of the electron in atoms; that would go on to have far reaching effects in the study of the natural sciences. Thomson also delivered lectures at some of the leading universities in the world like Princeton University and Yale University as a guest which further enhanced his reputation as a scientist of rare gift. Other than the Nobel Prize in Physics, Thomson went on to win several other important medals throughout a career that produced scientific discoveries that would shape scientific research for many years.

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Childhood & Early Life

Joseph John Thomson was born to Joseph James Thomson and his wife Emma Swindells on 18 December, 1856 in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester located in Lancashire, United Kingdom. His father was the owner of a bookshop that dealt in antiquarian books. J.J. Thomson had one younger brother.

Thomson was a child prodigy of sorts due to his remarkable grasp of the sciences from an early age. He was allowed to take admission to Owens College in 1870, when he was only 14 years old.

In 1876, at the age of 20 Thomson won a place at Trinity College, University of Cambridge to study mathematics. He received his bachelors degree 4 years later with first class honours and was one of the two students who won the Smith’s Prize, which is a prize meant for students of mathematics and theoretical physics who are engaged in research.

In 1881, he was made a Fellow of Trinity College and 2 years later he completed his MA from Cambridge University. Thomson was also bestowed with the prestigious Adams Prize, which is awarded by Cambridge University to outstanding research efforts.

Career

Thomson started his career at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and further enhanced his reputation as one of the most gifted mathematicians through his efforts. It was in 1884 that the members of the Royal Society elected him as a member and by the end of the same year Thomson was appointed as the Cavendish Professor of ExperimentalPhysics at the University of Cambridge.

His earliest research work was based on the structure of atoms and his first published paper was titled ‘Motion of Vortex Rings’ and in that particular paper he used pure mathematics to describe the vortex theory in relation to atomic structure as propounded by William Thomson.

Much of Thomson’s early research centred on mathematical explanation of chemical phenomena and the result was the 1886 book ‘Applications of Dynamics to Physics and Chemistry’. Six years later he published ‘Researches in Electricity and Dynamism’.

In 1896, Princeton University invited him to deliver lectures on the subjects on which he had worked. The contents of those lectures were all documented in the book ‘Discharge of Electricity through Gases’ that was published the following year.

He undertook the most important original research of his career in the year 1897 when he started is seminal research on cathode rays that led him through different alleys and one of the most significant discoveries out of that research was the discovery of the electron in relation to atoms which changed the face of the natural sciences.

In a series of lectures delivered at the famous University of Yale in 1904, he demonstrated how an atom was structured and also explained the different principles of electricity. In addition to this, Thomson stated that positive rays could be used in order to separate atoms.

He spent the latter part of his career in conducting research on isotopes that led to the discovery of positive ions and later on he went on to make such important discoveries as the radioactivity of the element potassium. On the other hand he was also able to assert that hydrogen did not have more than one electron.

Major Works

J. J. Thomson’s most important work centred around the research on cathode rays that led to the discovery of the electron and he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906 for this path breaking discovery.

Awards & Achievements

Thomson won the Royal Medal in 1894.

The Royal Society of London awarded J. J. Thomson the Hughes Medal in 1902.

In 1906, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the discovery of the electron.

The Franklin Institute awarded him the Elliott Cresson Medal in 1910 and 12 years later the same institute gave him the Franklin Medal.

The Royal Society awarded him the Copley Medal in 1914 and a year later the Royal School of Arts awarded him the Albert Medal.

In 1918, Thomson was made a ‘Master of Trinity College’.

Personal Life & Legacy

J. J. Thomson married Rose Elisabeth Paget in 1890. They had two children- a son named George Paget Thomson and a daughter named Joan Paget Thomson. The son went on to become a Nobel Prize winning physicist.

He died at the age of 83 on 30 August, 1940. His body was buried at the famous Westminster Abbey.

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J. J. Thomson's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Nobel Prize for Physics (1906)
0Elliott Cresson Medal (1910)
0Copley Medal (1914)
0Albert Medal (1915)
0Franklin Medal (1922)
0Faraday Medal (1925)
0Smith's Prize (1880)
0 Royal Medal (1894)
0 Hughes Medal (1902)

J. J. Thomson biography timelines

  • // 18th Dec 1856
    Joseph John Thomson was born to Joseph James Thomson and his wife Emma Swindells on 18 December, 1856 in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester located in Lancashire, United Kingdom. His father was the owner of a bookshop that dealt in antiquarian books. J.J. Thomson had one younger brother.
  • // 1870
    Thomson was a child prodigy of sorts due to his remarkable grasp of the sciences from an early age. He was allowed to take admission to Owens College in 1870, when he was only 14 years old.
  • // 1876
    In 1876, at the age of 20 Thomson won a place at Trinity College, University of Cambridge to study mathematics. He received his bachelors degree 4 years later with first class honours and was one of the two students who won the Smith’s Prize, which is a prize meant for students of mathematics and theoretical physics who are engaged in research.
  • // 1881
    In 1881, he was made a Fellow of Trinity College and 2 years later he completed his MA from Cambridge University. Thomson was also bestowed with the prestigious Adams Prize, which is awarded by Cambridge University to outstanding research efforts.
  • // 1884
    Thomson started his career at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and further enhanced his reputation as one of the most gifted mathematicians through his efforts. It was in 1884 that the members of the Royal Society elected him as a member and by the end of the same year Thomson was appointed as the Cavendish Professor of ExperimentalPhysics at the University of Cambridge.
  • // 1886
    Much of Thomson’s early research centred on mathematical explanation of chemical phenomena and the result was the 1886 book ‘Applications of Dynamics to Physics and Chemistry’. Six years later he published ‘Researches in Electricity and Dynamism’.
  • // 1890
    J. J. Thomson married Rose Elisabeth Paget in 1890. They had two children- a son named George Paget Thomson and a daughter named Joan Paget Thomson. The son went on to become a Nobel Prize winning physicist.
  • // 1894
    Thomson won the Royal Medal in 1894.
  • // 1896
    In 1896, Princeton University invited him to deliver lectures on the subjects on which he had worked. The contents of those lectures were all documented in the book ‘Discharge of Electricity through Gases’ that was published the following year.
  • // 1897
    He undertook the most important original research of his career in the year 1897 when he started is seminal research on cathode rays that led him through different alleys and one of the most significant discoveries out of that research was the discovery of the electron in relation to atoms which changed the face of the natural sciences.
  • // 1902
    The Royal Society of London awarded J. J. Thomson the Hughes Medal in 1902.
  • // 1904
    In a series of lectures delivered at the famous University of Yale in 1904, he demonstrated how an atom was structured and also explained the different principles of electricity. In addition to this, Thomson stated that positive rays could be used in order to separate atoms.
  • // 1906
    J. J. Thomson’s most important work centred around the research on cathode rays that led to the discovery of the electron and he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906 for this path breaking discovery.
  • // 1906
    In 1906, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the discovery of the electron.
  • // 1910
    The Franklin Institute awarded him the Elliott Cresson Medal in 1910 and 12 years later the same institute gave him the Franklin Medal.
  • // 1914
    The Royal Society awarded him the Copley Medal in 1914 and a year later the Royal School of Arts awarded him the Albert Medal.
  • // 1918
    In 1918, Thomson was made a ‘Master of Trinity College’.
  • // 30th Aug 1940
    He died at the age of 83 on 30 August, 1940. His body was buried at the famous Westminster Abbey.

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J. J. Thomson's FAQ

  • What is J. J. Thomson birthday?

    J. J. Thomson was born at 1856-12-18

  • When was J. J. Thomson died?

    J. J. Thomson was died at 1940-08-30

  • Where was J. J. Thomson died?

    J. J. Thomson was died in Cambridge, UK

  • Which age was J. J. Thomson died?

    J. J. Thomson was died at age 83

  • Where is J. J. Thomson's birth place?

    J. J. Thomson was born in Manchester, Lancashire, UK

  • What is J. J. Thomson nationalities?

    J. J. Thomson's nationalities is British

  • Who is J. J. Thomson spouses?

    J. J. Thomson's spouses is Rose Elisabeth Paget

  • Who is J. J. Thomson siblings?

    J. J. Thomson's siblings is Frederick Vernon Thomson

  • Who is J. J. Thomson childrens?

    J. J. Thomson's childrens is George Paget Thomson

  • What was J. J. Thomson universities?

    J. J. Thomson studied at Cambridge University,Trinity College, Cambridge,University Of Manchester, University of Cambridge, Trinity College, Cambridge, University of Manchester, Victoria University of Manchester

  • What was J. J. Thomson notable alumnis?

    J. J. Thomson's notable alumnis is Cambridge University, Trinity College, Cambridge, University Of Manchester

  • What is J. J. Thomson's inventions/discoveries?

    Electrons And Isotopes And Inventing The Mass Spectrometer was invented (or discovered) by J. J. Thomson

  • What is J. J. Thomson's religion?

    J. J. Thomson's religion is Anglican/Episcopalian

  • Who is J. J. Thomson's father?

    J. J. Thomson's father is Joseph James Thomson

  • Who is J. J. Thomson's mother?

    J. J. Thomson's mother is Emma Swindells

  • What is J. J. Thomson's sun sign?

    J. J. Thomson is Sagittarius

  • How famous is J. J. Thomson?

    J. J. Thomson is famouse as Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner