Eric Ashby, Baron Ashby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Ashby, Baron Ashby
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Ashby in June 1958.
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 6 July 1973 – 22 October 1992 Life Peerage |
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| 5th Chancellor of the Queen's University Belfast | |
| In office 1970–1983 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Tyrone Guthrie |
| Succeeded by | Sir Rowland Wright |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eric Ashby
24 August 1904 Leytonstone, Essex, England |
| Died | 22 October 1992 (aged 88) |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Helen Margaret Farries |
| Alma mater | City of London School Royal College of Science |
Eric Ashby (born August 24, 1904 – died October 22, 1992) was a famous British scientist and educator. He was known for his work with plants (botany) and for leading many important universities and groups. He was also called Baron Ashby later in his life.
He was born in Leytonstone, a town in Essex, England. Eric Ashby went to the City of London School and then the Royal College of Science. He earned a science degree there. After college, he worked at Imperial College and the University of Bristol. In 1929, he received a special scholarship to study at the University of Chicago in the United States.
Contents
Family Life and Partnership
Eric Ashby married Elizabeth Helen Margaret Farries. They met while working together on a science project. This project involved burning things to measure carbon in tissues. They had two sons, named Michael and Peter.
Eric Ashby's Career and Impact
Eric Ashby had a long and important career in science and education. He held many different roles.
Leading Universities and Research
In 1938, Eric Ashby became a professor of botany at the University of Sydney in Australia. He taught there until 1946. During World War II, from 1944 to 1945, he worked as a science advisor in Moscow.
From 1947 to 1950, he was a botany professor at the University of Manchester. Experts said that his passion for plants made Manchester a top place to study botany in the UK.
University Leadership Roles
Eric Ashby became the president and vice-chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast in 1950. He held this important position until 1959. Later, he became the Master of Clare College, Cambridge from 1959 to 1975. He also served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1967 to 1969.
From 1970 to 1983, he was the Chancellor of the Queen's University, Belfast. This shows his lasting connection and importance to the university.
Work on Environmental Issues
Eric Ashby was very interested in protecting the environment. From 1970 to 1973, he was the chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. This group advised the government on how to deal with pollution.
Honors and Recognition
Because of his important work, Eric Ashby received many honors. He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1956. This meant he could be called "Sir Eric Ashby."
In 1973, he was given a special title called Baron Ashby. This made him a life peer, which meant he could be a member of the House of Lords. He was known as Baron Ashby of Brandon.
He was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. In 1961, he became an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also received an honorary science degree from the University of Bath in 1966.
See also
- List of Old Citizens
