Rowland Biffen
Encyclopedia
Sir Rowland Harry Biffen FRS (28 May 1874 in Cheltenham
- 12 July 1949) was a British
botanist, mycologist, and geneticist
.
He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge
in 1898 and initially became a university demonstrator, researching fungi under Harry Marshall Ward
. He published a number of papers on mycology between 1898 and 1902 and subsequently became president of the British Mycological Society
in 1905 and again in 1930.
In 1908, Biffen was appointed the first professor of agricultural botany at Cambridge
, a post he held till 1931. He won the Royal Society
's Darwin Medal
in 1920. Biffen was the first director of the John Innes Centre
's Plant Breeding Institute, and was an early proponent of using genetics to improve crop plants. Early in his career he traveled to the Americas to study rubber
, but his primary research plant was wheat
. He developed a variety called Yeomen wheat.
He was knighted in 1935. He died in Cambridge. He had married Mary Hemus in 1899.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
- 12 July 1949) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
botanist, mycologist, and geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
.
He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
in 1898 and initially became a university demonstrator, researching fungi under Harry Marshall Ward
Harry Marshall Ward
Harry Marshall Ward was a British botanist, mycologist, and plant pathologist.Born in Hereford, Ward was educated at Lincoln Cathedral school. from c. 1864. He went on to scientific studies at the South Kensington Science and Art Department under Thomas Henry Huxley in 1874...
. He published a number of papers on mycology between 1898 and 1902 and subsequently became president of the British Mycological Society
British Mycological Society
The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi.-Formation:The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of Hereford and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford...
in 1905 and again in 1930.
In 1908, Biffen was appointed the first professor of agricultural botany at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, a post he held till 1931. He won the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
's Darwin Medal
Darwin Medal
The Darwin Medal is awarded by the Royal Society every alternate year for "work of acknowledged distinction in the broad area of biology in which Charles Darwin worked, notably in evolution, population biology, organismal biology and biological diversity". First awarded in 1890, it was created in...
in 1920. Biffen was the first director of the John Innes Centre
John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre located in Norwich, Norfolk, England is an independent centre for research and training in plant and microbial science...
's Plant Breeding Institute, and was an early proponent of using genetics to improve crop plants. Early in his career he traveled to the Americas to study rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, but his primary research plant was wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
. He developed a variety called Yeomen wheat.
He was knighted in 1935. He died in Cambridge. He had married Mary Hemus in 1899.