John Bretland Farmer facts for kids

Sir John Bretland Farmer (born April 5, 1865 – died January 26, 1944) was an important British scientist. He was a botanist, which means he studied plants. He was also a cytologist, someone who studies cells.

Sir John Farmer is famous for his work on how living things pass on traits. He believed that tiny parts inside cells, called chromomeres, were the main units of heredity. Heredity is how characteristics are passed from parents to their children. He also helped name a very important process called meiosis in 1905. Meiosis is how cells divide to create new cells for reproduction.

Who Was Sir John Farmer?

Early Life and Education

John Farmer was born in a town called Atherstone in Warwickshire, England. His parents were John Henry Farmer and Elizabeth Corbett Bretland. He went to the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Atherstone for his early education.

He was a very bright student. He earned a special spot at Magdalen College at the University of Oxford. He finished his studies there in 1887. While at Oxford, a professor named Isaac Bayley Balfour greatly influenced him.

A Career in Science

After graduating, John Farmer stayed at Oxford for several years. He became a Fellow of Magdalen College from 1889 to 1897. He also worked as a demonstrator of botany and later as an assistant professor of biology. This means he helped teach students about plants and living things.

Later, he became a full professor of botany at Imperial College London. This was a very important position. In 1902, the University of Oxford gave him an even higher degree, a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.). This showed how much he had achieved in his scientific work.

Important Discoveries and Honors

Sir John Farmer was recognized for his amazing contributions to science. In 1900, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in Britain. He later received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society in 1919. He was also the vice-president of the Royal Society from 1919 to 1921.

Beyond his scientific work, he was also the President of the Alpine Climbers Club from 1910 to 1912. This shows he had interests outside of his laboratory too!

In 1926, he received a special honor from the King. He was made a Knight, which means he could use the title "Sir" before his name. This was for his great work in botany and for helping to educate people about science.

Later Life

Sir John Farmer passed away in Exmouth, a town on the southern coast of England, on January 26, 1944. He left behind a legacy of important discoveries in plant science and cell biology.

His Family Life

In 1892, John Farmer married Edith May Gertrude Pritchard.