Abstract
PHYSICISTS and others will have read with much regret the announcement in the daily papers at the end of last week of the death on August 30 of Sir J. J. Thomson, whose name will always be associated with the discovery of the electron, the fundamental unit of electricity, and the basis of modern views on the structure of matter. So long ago as 1913, NATURE published an account of his work, written by Prof. Augusto Righi, in the series of “Scientific Worthies”, and the intervening years have but served to emphasize the importance and significance of his work there described. The decision to accord him a national burial at Westminster Abbey was a fitting memorial to one whose name had passed into international usage. At a later date, we hope to print some personal appreciations of Sir J. J. Thomson, though unfortunately we are cut off from many who would otherwise no doubt have paid their tribute to him who will always be known affectionately as “J. J.”
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sir J.J. Thomson, O.M., F.R.S.. Nature 146, 329 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/146329a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/146329a0