Frederick Stratten Russell facts for kids

Sir Frederick Stratten Russell (born November 3, 1897, died June 5, 1984) was a famous English marine biologist. He spent his life studying the ocean and its tiny creatures. He made important discoveries about plankton and how to tell different fish apart when they are very young.

Who Was Frederick Russell?

Frederick Stratten Russell was a brilliant scientist. He dedicated his career to understanding marine life. His work helped us learn more about the ocean's hidden world.

Early Life and Education

Frederick Russell was born in Bridport, a town in Dorset, England. He was born on November 3, 1897. He went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge for his university studies. This is where he began his journey into science.

A Career in Marine Biology

In 1924, Russell started working for the Marine Biological Association. This important organization is located in Plymouth, England. He worked hard and became the director of the association in 1945. This meant he was in charge of all the research there.

Russell was recognized for his amazing work. He was chosen to be part of the Royal Society in 1938. This is a very special honor for scientists. In 1961, he received the Linnean Medal. He was also knighted in 1965, which means he was given the title "Sir."

His scientific papers and personal notes are kept at the National Marine Biological Library. These papers cover his work from 1921 to 1984. They show how much he contributed to marine biology.

Discoveries and Writings

Frederick Russell was very interested in plankton. Plankton are tiny plants and animals that float in the ocean. They are a very important food source for many sea creatures. He studied their life cycles and where they lived in the ocean.

He also found a way to tell different kinds of fish apart. He could do this even when they were just tiny babies. This was a very helpful discovery for scientists.

Russell also wrote an important book. It was called The Medusae of the British Isles. This book was about jellyfish found around Britain. It was published in two parts, between 1953 and 1970.

Honoring His Work

Frederick Russell also served his country. He was in the military during both World War I and World War II. He received special awards for his bravery, like the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He was also the father of another scientist, W. M. S. Russell.

A type of fish was named after him. It is called Russell’s dragonet, or Callionymus russelli. This shows how much his work was valued by other scientists.