Charles E. Saunders
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Edward Saunders, FRSC (February 2, 1867 – July 25, 1937) was a Canadian agronomist
. He was the inventor of Marquis Wheat
.
Born in London
, Canada West, he received a Bachelor of Arts
from the University of Toronto
in 1888. From 1888 to 1893, he specialized in chemistry at summer school at Harvard University
. In 1891, he received a Ph.D
from Johns Hopkins University
. He married Mary Blackwell.
Saunders Secondary School
in London, Ontario is named for him and other members of his prominent family, including his father, chemist William Saunders
.
Saunders learned most of what he knew about hybridization at home through his family. Some of his earliest memories are of driving with his father to a fruit farm outside the city limits, where he would help him hybridize grapes, currants, raspberries, and gooseberries.
. In 1891, he received Ph.D. for chemistry from Johns Hopkins University
, in Baltimore
, Maryland
. From 1892 to 1893, Saunders was the Professor of Chemistry at Central University
in Kentucky
. Between 1894 and 1903, he studied flute with E. M. Heindl of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and at the New England Conservatory of Music and with Eugene Weiner of the New York Philharmonic Club. He also received voice training.k;j;
Saunders opened two studios in Toronto, announcing that in addition to accepting commissions for concerts and recitals, he was available to train students in voice and flute.
1895-1896
Became a columnist in The Week, writing about various aspects of music.
William Saunders, Charles' father, appointed him Experimentalist, a title that became Cerealist in 1905 and Dominion Cerealist in 1910.
In the search for a hardy wheat that would mature faster, he literally made hundreds of crosses, proceeding to test the yields. Tests included one called "chewing", whereby Saunders identified strains with strong gluten by chewing a few sample kernels. "I made more wheat into gum than was made by all the boys in any dozen rural schools of a generation ago." (Pomeroy, Elsie M. William: Saunders and His Five Sons: The Story of the Marquis Wheat Family, p. 141)
Dr. Saunders completed his assessments by qualifying yield. Using a technique he devised himself, he ground his own flour and baked his own bread in small loaves to measure volume.
Working with Red Fife, which had been imported and developed by David Fife from Ontario, Dr. Saunders crossed it with Hard Red Calcutta. The new variety Markham showed great promise, but its offspring were not uniform. After many trials, a winner emerged - Marquis.
1906
Surplus Marquis seed was shipped to Indian Head, Saskatchewan, for additional testing.
1911
Marquis won the Canadian Pacific Railway Prize of $1,000.00 for the best bushel of hard spring wheat grown in North America. This was the first of many prizes.
Marquis' only drawback was its susceptibility to rust. Not until 1947 was a rust-resistant variety developed at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. It was christened "Saunders".
90% of the wheat crop in western Canada was Marquis.
Dr. Saunders also applied his methods to barley, oats, peas, beans, and flax, introducing several new varieties of each.
He wrote extensively on the subject and many of his thoughts on cereals were presented to scientific conferences and societies and printed in scientific magazines.
1922
After suffering a physical breakdown, Dr. Saunders resigned his position. He moved to Paris with his wife.
1922-1925
At the Sorbonne, he studied French literature.
1925
He returned to Ottawa briefly, but in 1928 he moved to Toronto. Though retired, he continued to lecture on Marquis wheat and the French language.
1928
Essais et Vers, a collection of Dr. Saunders' French essays and poems, was published by Louis Carrier and Cie, Les Editions du Mercure, in Montreal and New York. The work received critical acclaim in the French press, especially in Quebec.
1934
Dr. Saunders was knighted by King George V for his contribution to agriculture.
1937
Dr. Saunders died in Toronto. Tributes to him came from around the world. In The London Daily Express, his obituary read:
"He added more wealth to his country than any other man. Marconi gave power. Saunders gave abundance. Great lives, these!"
Charles Edward Saunders was born in London, Ontario, on Feb. 2, 1867, son of William and Sarah Agnes Robinson Saunders. He received his early education in the elementary and collegiate system in London and his university education at the University of Toronto, Johns Hopkins University, and the Sorbonne. He married Mary Blackwell of Toronto in 1892.
Saunders began an academic career as professor of chemistry and geology at Central University, Ky., in 1893. Within 2 years, however, he turned to a musical career in Toronto, where, in addition to acting as an agent, he gave lessons in singing and flute playing and wrote as music critic in a newspaper. His musical career was not a financial success, however, and in 1903 he accepted appointment as Dominion cerealist at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa. The new work was not a break with family tradition, for Saunders's father had founded the system of experimental farms established in Canada, and his brother, Percy, had done considerable work in cross-breeding strains of wheat.
Saunders turned enthusiastically to his new tasks. Following up his brother's research, he developed Marquis wheat in 1904, a variety which showed marked superiority in milling quality for bread flour over other varieties popular in western Canada. Marquis had the advantage of maturing 10 days earlier than its competitors - a factor of great importance in the Canadian wheat belt. The Indian Head Experimental Farm in Saskatchewan raised Marquis wheat for seed, and by 1909 its use was widespread. By 1920 90 percent of the wheat grown in western Canada was Marquis. However, Marquis was not resistant to stem rust
. In seeking newer and better varieties Saunders developed three other strains of wheat - Ruby, Garnet, and Reward - specifically adapted to prairie conditions. He was also responsible for improved varieties of oats and barley.
In 1922 Saunders retired and turned to the study of French, a subject which had always attracted him. He spent the years 1922-1925 at the Sorbonne, returning to Canada to write a book, Essais et vers, in 1928. In recognition of his work in the French language he was decorated by the French government and was presented with the Medaille de l'Académie française.
Saunders won honor in his own country also. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1921 and won the society's Flavelle Medal in 1925. He was knighted in 1933. He is a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
. He died on July 25, 1937.
Agronomist
An agronomist is a scientist who specializes in agronomy, which is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. An agronomist is an expert in agricultural and allied sciences, with the exception veterinary sciences.Agronomists deal with interactions between plants, soils, and...
. He was the inventor of Marquis Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
.
Born in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada West, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1888. From 1888 to 1893, he specialized in chemistry at summer school at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1891, he received a Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He married Mary Blackwell.
Saunders Secondary School
Saunders Secondary School
Saunders Secondary School is located at 941 Viscount Road in the Westmount suburb of London, Ontario, Canada. It is named after William Saunders and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture and horticulture. Grades offered are...
in London, Ontario is named for him and other members of his prominent family, including his father, chemist William Saunders
William Saunders (scientist)
William Saunders was a Canadian pharmacist, scientist, civil servant, and author.Born in Crediton, England, the son of James Saunders and Jane Wollacott, Saunders emigrated to Upper Canada in 1848 settling in London. He apprenticed to a local druggist and opened his own pharmacy in 1855...
.
Honours
- In 1921, he was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. - In 1921, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws and LettersDoctor of LettersDoctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
by the University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. - In 1925, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of ScienceDoctor of ScienceDoctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
from the University of Toronto. - In 1925, he received the Royal Society of Canada’s Flavelle MedalFlavelle MedalThe Flavelle Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for an outstanding contribution to biological science during the preceding ten years or for significant additions to a previous outstanding contribution to biological science". It is named in honour of Joseph Wesley Flavelle and is...
for Science.
Saunders learned most of what he knew about hybridization at home through his family. Some of his earliest memories are of driving with his father to a fruit farm outside the city limits, where he would help him hybridize grapes, currants, raspberries, and gooseberries.
Education
In 1888, Saunders received the Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. In 1891, he received Ph.D. for chemistry from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. From 1892 to 1893, Saunders was the Professor of Chemistry at Central University
Central University
Central University may mean:*National Central University, Taiwan*Nanjing University, former name*Central University , one of 22 government-designated central universities in India*Central University of Ecuador, the oldest university in Ecuador...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Between 1894 and 1903, he studied flute with E. M. Heindl of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and at the New England Conservatory of Music and with Eugene Weiner of the New York Philharmonic Club. He also received voice training.k;j;
Before 1900
1894Saunders opened two studios in Toronto, announcing that in addition to accepting commissions for concerts and recitals, he was available to train students in voice and flute.
1895-1896
Became a columnist in The Week, writing about various aspects of music.
1900 to 1920
1903William Saunders, Charles' father, appointed him Experimentalist, a title that became Cerealist in 1905 and Dominion Cerealist in 1910.
In the search for a hardy wheat that would mature faster, he literally made hundreds of crosses, proceeding to test the yields. Tests included one called "chewing", whereby Saunders identified strains with strong gluten by chewing a few sample kernels. "I made more wheat into gum than was made by all the boys in any dozen rural schools of a generation ago." (Pomeroy, Elsie M. William: Saunders and His Five Sons: The Story of the Marquis Wheat Family, p. 141)
Dr. Saunders completed his assessments by qualifying yield. Using a technique he devised himself, he ground his own flour and baked his own bread in small loaves to measure volume.
Working with Red Fife, which had been imported and developed by David Fife from Ontario, Dr. Saunders crossed it with Hard Red Calcutta. The new variety Markham showed great promise, but its offspring were not uniform. After many trials, a winner emerged - Marquis.
1906
Surplus Marquis seed was shipped to Indian Head, Saskatchewan, for additional testing.
1911
Marquis won the Canadian Pacific Railway Prize of $1,000.00 for the best bushel of hard spring wheat grown in North America. This was the first of many prizes.
Marquis' only drawback was its susceptibility to rust. Not until 1947 was a rust-resistant variety developed at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. It was christened "Saunders".
1920-1937
192090% of the wheat crop in western Canada was Marquis.
Dr. Saunders also applied his methods to barley, oats, peas, beans, and flax, introducing several new varieties of each.
He wrote extensively on the subject and many of his thoughts on cereals were presented to scientific conferences and societies and printed in scientific magazines.
1922
After suffering a physical breakdown, Dr. Saunders resigned his position. He moved to Paris with his wife.
1922-1925
At the Sorbonne, he studied French literature.
1925
He returned to Ottawa briefly, but in 1928 he moved to Toronto. Though retired, he continued to lecture on Marquis wheat and the French language.
1928
Essais et Vers, a collection of Dr. Saunders' French essays and poems, was published by Louis Carrier and Cie, Les Editions du Mercure, in Montreal and New York. The work received critical acclaim in the French press, especially in Quebec.
1934
Dr. Saunders was knighted by King George V for his contribution to agriculture.
1937
Dr. Saunders died in Toronto. Tributes to him came from around the world. In The London Daily Express, his obituary read:
"He added more wealth to his country than any other man. Marconi gave power. Saunders gave abundance. Great lives, these!"
Charles Edward Saunders was born in London, Ontario, on Feb. 2, 1867, son of William and Sarah Agnes Robinson Saunders. He received his early education in the elementary and collegiate system in London and his university education at the University of Toronto, Johns Hopkins University, and the Sorbonne. He married Mary Blackwell of Toronto in 1892.
Saunders began an academic career as professor of chemistry and geology at Central University, Ky., in 1893. Within 2 years, however, he turned to a musical career in Toronto, where, in addition to acting as an agent, he gave lessons in singing and flute playing and wrote as music critic in a newspaper. His musical career was not a financial success, however, and in 1903 he accepted appointment as Dominion cerealist at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa. The new work was not a break with family tradition, for Saunders's father had founded the system of experimental farms established in Canada, and his brother, Percy, had done considerable work in cross-breeding strains of wheat.
Saunders turned enthusiastically to his new tasks. Following up his brother's research, he developed Marquis wheat in 1904, a variety which showed marked superiority in milling quality for bread flour over other varieties popular in western Canada. Marquis had the advantage of maturing 10 days earlier than its competitors - a factor of great importance in the Canadian wheat belt. The Indian Head Experimental Farm in Saskatchewan raised Marquis wheat for seed, and by 1909 its use was widespread. By 1920 90 percent of the wheat grown in western Canada was Marquis. However, Marquis was not resistant to stem rust
Stem rust
The stem, black or cereal rusts are caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis and are a significant disease affecting cereal crops. An epidemic of stem rust on wheat caused by race Ug99 is currently spreading across Africa, Asia and most recently into Middle East and is causing major concern due to...
. In seeking newer and better varieties Saunders developed three other strains of wheat - Ruby, Garnet, and Reward - specifically adapted to prairie conditions. He was also responsible for improved varieties of oats and barley.
In 1922 Saunders retired and turned to the study of French, a subject which had always attracted him. He spent the years 1922-1925 at the Sorbonne, returning to Canada to write a book, Essais et vers, in 1928. In recognition of his work in the French language he was decorated by the French government and was presented with the Medaille de l'Académie française.
Saunders won honor in his own country also. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1921 and won the society's Flavelle Medal in 1925. He was knighted in 1933. He is a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
The Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, located at the at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, honours Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to society in science and engineering. It also promotes role models to encourage young Canadians to pursue...
. He died on July 25, 1937.