Edward James Salisbury
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward James Salisbury FRS (16 April 1886 – 10 November 1978) was an English
botanist and ecologist. He was born in Harpenden
, Hertfordshire
and graduated in botany
from University College London
in 1905. In 1913, he obtained a D.Sc.
with a thesis on fossil seeds and was appointed a senior lecturer at East London College
. He returned to University College London
as a senior lecturer, from 1924 as a reader in plant ecology
and from 1929 as Quain Professor
of botany
.
He was director of the Royal Botanic Gardens
at Kew
from 1943 to 1956. He was responsible for the restoration of the gardens after the Second World War.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 15 March 1933 and won the society’s Royal Medal
in 1945 for "his notable contributions to plant ecology and to the study of the British flora generally". In 1936, he was awarded the The Veitch Memorial Medal
of the Royal Horticultural Society
in acknowledgement of his book The Living Garden (1935), which was enormously popular. In 1939, he received the Commander of the British Empire
and in 1946 he was knight
ed.
At first, his research was focussed on forest ecology
, particularly in his native Hertfordshire
. Later, he pioneered investigations of seed size and reproductive output of plants in relation to habitat. He also investigated the ecology of garden weed
s and of dune
plants.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
botanist and ecologist. He was born in Harpenden
Harpenden
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
and graduated in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
from University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1905. In 1913, he obtained a D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor 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...
with a thesis on fossil seeds and was appointed a senior lecturer at East London College
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He returned to University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
as a senior lecturer, from 1924 as a reader in plant ecology
Plant ecology
Plant ecology is a subdiscipline of ecology which studies the distribution and abundance of plants, the interactions among and between members of plant species, and their interactions with their environment...
and from 1929 as Quain Professor
Quain Professor
Quain Professor is the professorship title for certain disciplines at University College, London, England. The title is derived from Richard Quain who became professor of anatomy in 1832 at what was to become UCL...
of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
.
He was director of the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
at Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
from 1943 to 1956. He was responsible for the restoration of the gardens after the Second World War.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 15 March 1933 and won the society’s Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1945 for "his notable contributions to plant ecology and to the study of the British flora generally". In 1936, he was awarded the The Veitch Memorial Medal
The Veitch Memorial Medal
The Veitch Memorial Medal, is a prestigious international prize issued annually by the Royal Horticultural Society .-Goal:The prize is awarded to "persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of horticulture"...
of the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
in acknowledgement of his book The Living Garden (1935), which was enormously popular. In 1939, he received the Commander of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and in 1946 he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed.
At first, his research was focussed on forest ecology
Forest ecology
Forest ecology is the scientific study of the interrelated patterns, processes, flora, fauna and ecosystems in forests. The management of forests is known as forestry, silviculture, and forest management...
, particularly in his native Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Later, he pioneered investigations of seed size and reproductive output of plants in relation to habitat. He also investigated the ecology of garden weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
s and of dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
plants.
Selected scientific papers
- Salisbury, E.J. (1916) The emergence of the aerial organs in woodland plants. Journal of Ecology 4 (3-4): 121-128.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1920) The significance of the calcicolous habit. Journal of Ecology 8 (1): 202-215.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1922) Stratification and Hydrogen-ion concentration of the soil in relation to leaching and plant succession with special reference to woodlands. Journal of Ecology 9 (2): 220-240.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1925) The incidence of species in relation to soil reaction. Journal of Ecology 13 (1): 149-160.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1925) Note on the edaphic succession in some dune soils with special reference to the time factor. Journal of Ecology 13 (2): 322-328.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1925) Note on the edaphic succession in some dune soils with special reference to the time factor. Journal of Ecology 13 (2): 322-328.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1926) The geographical distribution of plants in relation to climatic factors. The Geographical Journal 67 (4): 312-335. Discussion on pp. 335-342 by H.N. RidleyHenry Nicholas RidleyHenry Nicholas Ridley CMG , MA , FRS, FLS, F.R.H.S. was an English botanist and geologist.Born at West Harling Hall, Norfolk, England...
a.o. - Salisbury, E.J. (1927) On the causes and ecological significance of stomatal frequency with special reference to woodland flora. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, series B 216 (1928): 1-65.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1929) The biological equipment of species in relation to competition. Journal of Ecology 17 (2): 197-222.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1930) Mortality amongst plants and its bearing on natural selection. Nature 125 : 817. Commented by Ronald A. Fisher (1930) in Nature 125: 972-973.; Reply by Salisbury in Nature 126: 95-96.
- Salisbury, E.J. (1971) The pioneer vegetation of exposed muds and its biological features. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences 259 : 207-255.
- Salisbury, E. (1974) Seed size and mass in relation to environment. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences 186 (1083): 83-88.
- Salisbury, E. (1975) The survival value of modes of dispersal. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences 188 (1091): 183-188.
- Salisbury, E. (1976) Seed output and the efficacy of dispersal by wind. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences 192 (1108): 323-329.