The electron is discovered, J J Thomson publishes his discovery of a sub atomic particle common to all matter. When investigating cathode rays using a highly evacuated discharge tube he was able to use the calculated velocity and deflection of the beam to calculate the ratio of electric charge to mass of the cathode ray. This was found to be constant regardless of the gas used in the tube and the metal of the cathode and was approximately 1000 times less than the value calculated for hydrogen ions in the electrolysis of liquids.



Further info:

American Institute of Physics - J J Thomson The Invention of the Electron -
http://www.aip.org/history/electron/jjhome.htm