While this might sound surprising for someone who made such significant contributions to science, it's important to remember that formal education was not as widespread in the late 19th century as it is today.
Thomson's brilliance was recognized early on. He was admitted to Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge without a formal degree. He was a bright and ambitious student who immersed himself in research and learned from the leading scientists of his time. His groundbreaking work on the electron, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906, stands as a testament to his genius and passion for science.