James Brontë Gatenby facts for kids

James Brontë Gatenby (born October 10, 1892, died July 20, 1960) was a smart scientist who studied animals. He was famous for his work on tiny parts inside cells, especially something called "Golgi bodies."

Early Life and Education

James Gatenby was born in a place called Wanganui in New Zealand. He went to St. Patrick's College in Wellington. Later, he studied at Jesus College, Oxford, which is a very old and famous university in England. In 1916, he finished his studies with top grades in zoology, which is the study of animals.

He stayed at Oxford for a few more years. First, he helped teach about forest animals and how human babies develop very early on. Then, in 1917, he became a teacher of histology. This is the study of tiny tissues in living things. In 1918, he became a senior member at Magdalen College, Oxford.

James Gatenby was the very first person to get a special advanced degree called a DPhil from Oxford University. He received this degree on March 11, 1920. A DPhil is like a PhD, a very high degree for scientists.

During World War I, in 1915, James Gatenby was in France. But he was called back to Oxford to finish his medical studies.

Career and Family

In 1919, James Gatenby left Oxford. He started working at University College, London, as a senior assistant in zoology. He also studied how different animals are built. In 1920, he became a lecturer in cytology, which is the study of cells.

In 1921, he moved to Trinity College, Dublin, in Ireland. There, he became a professor of zoology and comparative anatomy. He also became a professor of cytology.

In 1922, Gatenby married Enid (Molly) Meade. They had four children together. One of their children was Peter Gatenby, who later became a medical director for the United Nations. After Molly passed away in 1950, James married Constance Harris. He was also related to the famous Brontë family of writers.

His Scientific Work

James Gatenby did important new research on many different insects. He also studied the tiny structures inside their cells. His most important work was looking closely at "Golgi bodies" in various animals, including humans. Golgi bodies are like the cell's post office, helping to package and send out important materials.

He wrote several books, including:

• Biological Laboratory Technique by James Brontë Gatenby (published in 1937)
• Microtomist's Vade-Mecum by Arthur Bolles Lee, James Brontë Gatenby, and Edmund Vincent Cowdry (published in 1928)