Sydney Harland facts for kids

Sydney Cross Harland (1891–1982) was a British scientist who studied plants, especially how to grow cotton. He was known around the world for his work in botany, which is the study of plants.

Early Life and Learning

Sydney Cross Harland was born in a place called Snainton in Yorkshire, England, on June 19, 1891. His parents were Erasmus and Eliza Harland. He went to school in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

He loved science and studied it at King's College London. He focused on geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and soil. He earned his first degree in 1912 and a higher degree (a doctorate) in 1919.

A Career Exploring Plants

Sydney Harland traveled a lot for his work. In 1922, he left Britain to teach on the island of St Croix. This island was owned by Denmark back then, but now it's part of the US Virgin Islands.

A year later, in 1923, he became a professor of botany in Trinidad and Tobago. He taught at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. In 1926, he also became the director of the Cotton Research Station in Trinidad. He worked there until 1935, helping to improve cotton growing.

In 1940, he moved to Peru. There, he became the director of the Institute of Genetics within Peru's National Agricultural Society. This meant he was in charge of studying how plants inherit traits.

Returning to Britain

Sydney Harland came back to Britain in 1949. He started working at the University of Manchester as a botany expert. The next year, in 1950, he became the George Harrison Professor of Botany. He held this important job until 1958, when he became a professor emeritus, which means he was still connected to the university after retiring.

Special Honors and Research

Because of his important work, Sydney Harland received special honors. In 1943, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for top scientists in Britain. In 1951, he was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, another important science group in Scotland.

In 1952, he worked with another scientist named Kathleen Basford. She had published a paper about a type of plant called Fuchsia. Her research suggested that this plant existed millions of years ago, even before continents moved apart. This was very exciting, so Sydney Harland offered her a job at the university. They worked together, even traveling to Peru to study and breed maize (corn).

Family Life

Sydney Harland married Emily Wilson Cameron in 1915. They had two daughters. Later, they divorced. In 1934, he married Olive Sylvia Atteck, who came from a wealthy family in Trinidad.

One of their sons grew up to become a professor of child health in the West Indies. Another one of his sons is the psychologist Richard Lynn.

Sydney Cross Harland passed away in his hometown of Snainton on November 8, 1982.