Birth of Sir Joseph Thomson
The discoverer of the electron was born 18 December 1856.
The discoverer of the electron was born in the Manchester suburb of Cheetham Hill and christened Joseph John. His father, Joseph James, was an antiquarian bookseller, and the business had come down to him from his own grandfather. The family’s origins were lowland Scottish, apparently, but they had been in Manchester for several generations. They were strong supporters of the local parish church and young Joe would be a lifelong Anglican Christian.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
