In , J. J. Thomson discovered the electron while researching cathode rays, which he discovered were made up of negatively charged particles much smaller than atoms.
He created a partially evacuated glass tube, meaning that a significant amount of air was driven out. He then applied a high electrical voltage to both ends of the tube using two electrodes.
He noticed a stream of particles (ray) moving from the negatively charged cathode to the positively charged anode electrode (anode). A cathode ray is a name for the ray, while a cathode ray tube is a name for the overall structure.
He came to the result that rays were and are essentially negatively charged particles present or moving around in a positive charge set.
Therefore, the electron was the first sub-atomic particle discovered, opening the way for the discovery of all sub-atomic particles as well as the physical structure of the atom.