Isaac Bayley Balfour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Isaac Bayley Balfour
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| Born | 31 March 1853 27 Inverleith Row, Edinburgh
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| Died | 30 November 1922 (aged 69) Court Hill, Haslemere, Surrey
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | University of Edinburgh (BSc); University of Glasgow (LLD) |
| Occupation | botanist |
| Known for | Major reform of the gardens, establishing a proper botanical institute, and largely redeveloping the layout of the gardens |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Boyd Balloch |
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| Awards | Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society (1919) |
Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour (born March 31, 1853 – died November 30, 1922) was a very important Scottish botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He was known for making big improvements to famous botanical gardens and for setting up a proper place for plant science. He taught at several top universities, including the University of Glasgow, the University of Oxford, and the University of Edinburgh.
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Early Life and Learning
Isaac Bayley Balfour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, John Hutton Balfour, was also a famous botanist. Growing up, Isaac was very interested in plants and science, just like his dad.
Because his father was a professor, young Isaac could visit the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. These gardens were not open to everyone back then. This early access helped him learn a lot about plants.
He went to the Edinburgh Academy and then studied at the University of Edinburgh. He also studied at universities in Würzburg and Strasbourg in Europe.
Amazing Plant Expeditions
In 1874, Isaac went on an exciting trip to an island called Rodrigues. The main reason for the trip was to watch the planet Venus. But Isaac used the chance to study the plants on the island. When he came back, his plant discoveries helped him earn his doctorate degree.
Later, in 1880, he led another expedition to Socotra, an island known for its unique plants. These trips helped him learn about plants from all over the world.
A Leader in Botany
Isaac Bayley Balfour became a professor at the University of Glasgow in 1879. He then moved to the University of Oxford in 1884 to become a professor there. In the same year, he married Agnes Boyd Balloch.
His biggest impact came when he returned to Edinburgh in 1888. He took over his father's old job as Professor of Botany at the University of Edinburgh. He also became the head of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
His father had already made the gardens bigger. But Isaac completely changed them! He made sure the gardens had enough money by making them part of the government. He then worked hard to improve everything. He created a proper plant science center and redesigned the gardens. He added a special area for trees called an arboretum. He also built new labs and improved the scientific tools.
For all his hard work, he was given a special award in 1920. He became a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which means he was called "Sir Isaac." He passed away in 1922 in Haslemere, England.
What He Studied
Sir Isaac was very interested in plants from the Himalayas and China. He worked closely with another botanist and plant collector named Reginald Farrer. Farrer would send Isaac his plant drawings, notes, plant samples, and seeds. This helped the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh learn a lot about new plants.
Awards and Achievements
Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour earned many awards and honors throughout his life:
- 1873: Earned his Bachelor of Science degree with top honors from the University of Edinburgh.
- 1877: Became a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
- 1884: Became a member of the Royal Society.
- 1897: Received the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society.
- 1919: Awarded the Linnean Medal from the Linnean Society, a very important award for naturalists.
- 1920: Became a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
Remembering Sir Isaac
There's a special place that remembers Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour. The Benmore Estate was given to the public, and in 1928, a small building called the Bayley Balfour Memorial Hut was placed there. It was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and used different types of wood from the estate.
The area around the hut was later dedicated to Sir Isaac's memory. Today, part of the estate is the Younger Botanic Garden, which is connected to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The memorial hut was moved and restored in 1968.
Sir Isaac is also remembered in the names of some animals. A type of lizard from Socotra is named Mesalina balfouri, and a butterfly from Socotra is named Charaxes balfourii.
