Maxwell moved to Cambridge University, first attending Peterhouse and then transferring to Trinity College. He immersed himself in his studies, excelling in mathematics and preparing for the demanding Tripos exams. He was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1855.

Maxwell won the prestigious Adams Prize for his essay 'On Saturn's Rings,' which provided a mathematical explanation for the stability of the rings. He demonstrated that the rings could not be solid but must consist of numerous small particles. This work established his reputation as a leading mathematical physicist.

Maxwell was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy at Marischal College, Aberdeen. During this period, he focused on color vision, developing the Maxwell disc and contributing significantly to colorimetry. He also continued his research on the kinetic theory of gases.

Maxwell accepted the position of Professor of Natural Philosophy at King's College London. This was a highly productive period for him, during which he developed his theory of electromagnetism. He published his groundbreaking paper 'A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field' in 1864, laying the foundation for modern electromagnetism.

This seminal paper, published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, presented Maxwell's unified theory of electricity, magnetism, and light. It introduced the concept of electromagnetic waves and predicted their existence and speed. This speed was very close to the speed of light, which led to the postulation that light "was" an electromagnetic wave.

Maxwell returned to Cambridge University as the first Professor of Experimental Physics and the Director of the newly established Cavendish Laboratory. He played a crucial role in designing and equipping the laboratory, fostering a new generation of experimental physicists, and conducting research on various topics, including the viscosity of gases.