John Sealy Townsend Scientist

Sir John Sealy Edward Townsend, FRS (7 June 1868 – 16 February 1957) was a mathematical physicist who conducted various studies concerning the electrical conduction of gases (concerning the kinetics of electrons and ions) and directly measured the electrical charge. He was a Wykeham Professor of physics at Oxford University.The phenomenon of the electron avalanche was discovered by him, and is known as the Townsend discharge.

Personal facts

Birth date	June 07, 1868
Birth place	County Galway , Galway
Date of death	February 16, 1957
Place of death	Oxford
Education	Trinity College Dublin University of Cambridge
Known for	Townsend (unit) Townsend discharge Ramsauer–Townsend effect