George Stapledon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reginald George Stapledon
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| Born | 22 September 1882 Northam, Devon, England
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| Died | 16 September 1960 Bath, Somerset, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | United Services College |
| Alma mater | Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Grassland scientist |
| Known for | Scientist and environmentalism pioneer |
| Title | Knight, Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Spouse(s) | Doris Wood Bourne |
| Parent(s) | William Stapledon and Mary Clibbert |
Sir Reginald George Stapledon (22 September 1882 – 16 September 1960) was an important English scientist. He was known for his work with grasslands and for being an early environmentalist. He helped us understand how important healthy land is for growing food and protecting nature.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Reginald George Stapledon was born on September 22, 1882, in Northam, Devon, England. He was one of seven children. His father, William Stapledon, was a shipping agent. His mother was Mary Clibbert.
He went to school at United Services College and then to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he studied natural sciences. This included subjects like geology (the study of Earth's rocks and soil), chemistry, and botany (the study of plants). After college, he worked for his family's business for a short time. However, he soon decided to focus on science instead.
Pioneering Grassland Science
Stapledon believed that a country should be able to grow its own food. This idea is called agricultural autarky. In 1907, he went back to the University of Cambridge to study biology. He then joined the Royal Agricultural College in 1910. He strongly believed that healthy grasslands were key to successful farming. He thought this was vital for Britain's economy and well-being.
In 1912, he moved to University College of Wales. There, he became the head of a new Department of Botany. He also married Doris Wood Bourne, who joined him in his work. From 1914 to 1918, he worked for the government's Board of Agriculture. He convinced them to create a special station for testing seeds.
Developing New Grass Varieties
Stapledon's most important work was as the director of a plant breeding station in Aberystwyth, Wales. He held this job from 1919 to 1942. This station was started with a large grant from Sir Laurence Philipps. Stapledon loved the beautiful nature of Wales. He even said that anyone who harmed the look of the Cambrian Mountains should be seen as a criminal.
He used an ecological approach to his work. This means he studied how plants and their environment interact. He developed many new types of grass, oats, and clover. These were known as 'S' strains. His work helped people understand how important grasslands are for farming. His ideas were especially popular in New Zealand. He visited New Zealand in 1926 and greatly influenced a scientist named Bruce Levy.
In 1939, Stapledon's work was recognized. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and was also knighted. This meant he could use the title "Sir."
Wartime Contributions
During World War II, Stapledon continued his work on grasslands. He became the director of a grassland research station in Drayton in 1942. He also helped start the British Grassland Society and was its first president.
Around this time, he strongly supported a farming method called ley farming. This method involves growing grass and clover for a few years before planting other crops. He believed this would help Britain grow more food during the war. He also convinced the government to set up another grassland research station before he retired in 1946.
Politics and Writing
Besides his scientific papers, Stapledon wrote books with more political ideas. Some of his notable books include The Land: Now and Tomorrow (1935) and The Way of the Land (1943).
In these books, he shared his vision for society. He believed that farming should be the main part of economic life. He wanted to see a return to small farms. He thought that capitalism (an economic system) should only serve his idea of a new rural way of life.
Stapledon also strongly supported the National Parks movement. He felt that national parks were important for connecting city people with the countryside. He joined groups that shared his ideas about rural life.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring in 1946, Stapledon had to return to work in 1947. This was because government science workers received low pensions. He became a science adviser for a seed company in Salisbury.
His health declined after major surgery in 1952. He suffered from various health issues for the rest of his life.
Despite his health problems, he received many honors for his contributions to science.
- He was an honorary member of agricultural societies in Sweden and Czechoslovakia.
- He received the Gold Medal from the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
- In 1932, he received the CBE award.
- Both the University of Nottingham (1951) and the University of Wales (1952) gave him honorary doctorates.
Sir Reginald George Stapledon passed away in 1960 in Bath, Somerset. He did not have any children. The BBC honored his life with a series of tributes called 'I Remember Stapledon.' His nephew was Olaf Stapledon, a famous science fiction writer.
