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AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectG. P. Thomson
Dates
May 3, 1892 – September 10, 1975
Authorized Form of Name
Thomson, G. P. (George Paget), 1892-1975
Additional Forms of Names
Thomson, George, 1892-1975
Thomson, George Paget
Thomson, George Paget, Sir, 1892-1975
Biography
Abstract
Sir George Paget Thomson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1937 with Clinton Davisson, "for their experimental discovery of the diffraction of electrons by crystals." Throughout his career, he held positions at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Aberdeen, Imperial College, and Corpus Christi College. Son of Nobel Prize winner J. J. Thomson, he was held in high esteem and made Scientific Advisor to the Air Ministry, Scientific Liaison Officer to the British Scientific Office in Canada, and Chairman of the Maud Committee which researched the plausibility of atomic bombs.
Important Dates
May 3, 1892Birth, Cambridge (England).
1913Obtained degree in mathematics and physics, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
1913 – 1914Researcher under his father J. J. Thomson, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
1914 – 1918Joined the Queen's Regiment Infantry during World War I.
1919Returned to researcher position, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
1922Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen (Scotland),.
1929 – 1930Non-resident Lecturer, Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).
1930Fellow, Royal Society.
1930 – 1952Chair of Physics, Imperial College, University of London, London (England).
1937Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics with Clinton Davisson "for their experimental discovery of the diffraction of electrons by crystals".
1940Chairman of the MAUD Committee, which investigated the possibility of the atomic bomb.
1941MAUD Committee reported that atomic bomb is possible, shared conclusions with American scientists.
1942Scientific Liaison Officer, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa (Ont.).
1943Returned to England as Scientific Advisor to the Air Ministry.
1943Knighted.
1952 – 1962Master of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
September 10, 1975Death, Cambridge (England).
Occupation
Quantum physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Thomson, J. J. (Joseph John), 1856-1940
Father and advisor at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
Thomson, Kathleen Buchanan
Spouse, married 1924.
Advisors & Collaborators
Blackett, P. M. S. (Patrick Maynard Stuart), Baron Blackett, 1897-1974
Collaborated on the MAUD Committee, lead by Thomson.
Thomson reported atomic bomb findings of MAUD committee to Conant and Bush.
Collaborated on the MAUD Committee, lead by Thomson.
Cockcroft, John, Sir, 1897-1967
Collaborated on the MAUD Committee, lead by Thomson.
Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978
Thomson reported atomic bomb findings of MAUD committee to Conant and Bush.
Davisson, Clinton Joseph, 1881-1958
Shared the 1937 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their experimental discovery of the diffraction of electrons by crystals."
Moon, Philip Burton
Advised by Thomson at Imperial College; and collaborated on the MAUD Committee, lead by Thomson.
Oliphant, Mark, 1901-2000
Collaborated on the MAUD Committee, lead by Thomson.
Additional
Bragg, William Henry, 1862-1942
Bragg, William Lawrence, Sir, 1890-1971
Chapman, Sydney, 1888-1970
Compton, K. T. (Karl Taylor), 1887-1954
Dirac, P. A. M. (Paul Adrien Maurice), 1902-1984
McCrea, William Hunter
Richardson, O. W. (Owen Willans), 1879-1959
Institutions
Major Positions
Cavendish Laboratory (Cambridge, England)
Researcher.
Cornell University
Non-resident Lecturer.
Corpus Christi College (University of Cambridge)
Master.
Imperial College, London. Department of Physics
Chair of Physics.
National Research Council of Canada
Scientific Liaison Officer for the United Kingdom and Canada.
University of Aberdeen
Professor of Natural Philosophy.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
MAUD Committee, 1940-1941
Committee Chairman.
Royal Society (Great Britain)
Fellow.
Trinity College (University of Cambridge)
Received Mathematics and Physics degree (1913).
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
G. P. Thomson papers and correspondence, 1905-1977.
Library
Trinity College
Cambridge CB2 1TQ
O. W. Richardson papers, 1897-1959 (bulk 1920-1940).
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Drawer 7219, Austin, TX 78713-7219, USA
Oral history interview with Sir George Paget Thomson, 1963 June 20.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Selected papers [sound recording], 1967.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Sir George Paget Thomson papers, 1939-1942.
Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge CB3 0DS
The future sources of power [sound recording], 1958.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Subject
Oral history interview with William Hunter McCrea, 1978 September 22.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Sir William Lawrence Bragg papers.
Royal Institution of Great Britain
London, England UK
Sydney Chapman festschrift material [microform], 1968.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Published Resources
Author
Conduction of electricity through gases.
Diffraction des rayons cathodiques / par G.P. Thomson ... traduit de l'anglais par R. Frie
J. J. Thomson discoverer of the electron.
J.J. Thomson and the Cavendish Laboratory in his day.
The wave mechanics of free electrons / by G.P. Thomson
Theory and practice of electron diffraction / by G. P. Thomson and W. Cochrane.