L.J.F. Brimble
Encyclopedia
Lionel John Farnham Brimble (born Radstock
, Somerset
, January 16, 1904, died London, November 15, 1965) was a botanist, author, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
and editor of Nature
magazine.
, Somerset
, where his early childhood was said to be very happy. He rejected a naval scholarship and instead attended Sexey's School
in Bruton
, Somerset
, as a boarder. He won a scholarship to University College of Reading, where he read Botany under Professor W. Stiles. He obtained a BSc degree from Reading University.
in Glasgow before he was offered a lectureship at the University of Manchester
, where
he worked from 1927–1930.
In Manchester he was also the theatre critic on a local paper. In 1931 he was offered the post of assistant editor of Nature
magazine.
by its editor Sir Richard Gregory. He was later involved with the organisation of the British Social Hygiene Council which eventually became the Central Council for Health Education. He worked at various times with Sir Julian Huxley
, Winifred Cullis, J.B.S. Haldane and Sir Robert Fields.
In 1938, on the retirement of Sir Richard, Brimble and his colleague A.J.V. Gale were
appointed joint editors of Nature
magazine. The partnership lasted 23 years, during which Nature published seminal papers in palaeoanthropology, nuclear energy, and the discovery of holography and the laser.
During this period Brimble travelled widely abroad, particularly in America and Australia. At the end of 1961 A. J. V. Gale retired from the joint editorship, leaving Brimble as sole editor. He suffered poor health in his fifties and died in 1965.
Radstock
Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, January 16, 1904, died London, November 15, 1965) was a botanist, author, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
and editor of Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
magazine.
Early life
He was born in 1904 at RadstockRadstock
Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, where his early childhood was said to be very happy. He rejected a naval scholarship and instead attended Sexey's School
Sexey's School
Sexey's School is a state boarding school in Bruton, Somerset, England that also takes some day pupils from the surrounding area. Sexey's School is named after Hugh Sexey who, in 1599, was appointed as a Royal auditor to Elizabeth I and later as a Royal auditor to James I. Sexey's Hospital was...
in Bruton
Bruton
Bruton is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Brue seven miles south-east of Shepton Mallet, just south of Snakelake Hill and Coombe Hill, ten miles north-west of Gillingham and twelve miles south-west of Frome in the South Somerset district. The town has a...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, as a boarder. He won a scholarship to University College of Reading, where he read Botany under Professor W. Stiles. He obtained a BSc degree from Reading University.
Career
In 1926 he went to Glasgow University as a science lecturer. He stayed only a yearin Glasgow before he was offered a lectureship at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, where
he worked from 1927–1930.
In Manchester he was also the theatre critic on a local paper. In 1931 he was offered the post of assistant editor of Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
magazine.
by its editor Sir Richard Gregory. He was later involved with the organisation of the British Social Hygiene Council which eventually became the Central Council for Health Education. He worked at various times with Sir Julian Huxley
Julian Huxley
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS was an English evolutionary biologist, humanist and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century evolutionary synthesis...
, Winifred Cullis, J.B.S. Haldane and Sir Robert Fields.
In 1938, on the retirement of Sir Richard, Brimble and his colleague A.J.V. Gale were
appointed joint editors of Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
magazine. The partnership lasted 23 years, during which Nature published seminal papers in palaeoanthropology, nuclear energy, and the discovery of holography and the laser.
During this period Brimble travelled widely abroad, particularly in America and Australia. At the end of 1961 A. J. V. Gale retired from the joint editorship, leaving Brimble as sole editor. He suffered poor health in his fifties and died in 1965.
Publications
- Trees In Britain: Wild, Ornamental And Economic, And Some Relatives In Other Lands (1946)
- Social Studies and World Citizenship;: A Sociological Approach to Education (1947)
- Nature Studies for Schools: With Suggestions for Practical, Field and Museum Work (1951)
- Flowers in Britain: Wild, Ornamental and Economic, and Some Relatives in Other Lands (1952)
- Intermediate Botany (1953)
- Useful Animals of the World (1956)
- Physiology, Anatomy and Health (1958)
- A School Course Of Biology, With Suggestions For Experimental And Field Work (1961)
Achievements
- Fellow, Linnean Society of LondonLinnean Society of LondonThe Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, 1938. - Fellow, Royal Society of EdinburghRoyal Society of EdinburghThe Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
, 1953.