William Penn Brooks
Encyclopedia
William Penn Brooks was an American agricultural scientist, who worked as a foreign advisor in Meiji period
Japan
in the colonization project for Hokkaidō
, and the eighth president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College.
, United States
to Nathaniel Brooks and Rebecca Partridge (Cushing). He was valedictorian of the Massachusetts Agricultural College class of 1875, where he had specialized in agricultural chemistry
, and had played a part in founding Phi Sigma Kappa
along with six fellow students.
After a year of graduate study, Brooks was hired as a teacher for Sapporo Agricultural College
(SAC), in Japan, whose head teacher at that time was Brooks' former professor, William Smith Clark. Brooks arrived in Sapporo in January 1877, shortly after Clark had left the school and only a few months before the Japanese government crushed the Satsuma rebellion
, the last opposition to its policy of modernization.
Immediately after his arrival, he began to deliver lectures on agricultural science and took charge of the directorship of the experimental fields. Brooks worked at the Sapporo Agricultural School for twelve years, four of which he served as the college president. Along with his teaching, Brooks made a great number of contributions as an agricultural advisor, identifying profitable crops for the northern Japanese climate and teaching courses in botany and agricultural science. He is credited with the introduction of onions, corn, beans, forage and other plants to Hokkaidō. Brooks stressed both the theoretical and practical in his classes. Students were assigned six hours of field work a week and paid by the hour.
In 1882, Brooks traveled home on leave and married. His wife, Eva Bancroft Hall Brooks returned with him to live in Sapporo until his contract expired in 1888. During this time they had two children, Rachel Bancroft Brooks and Sumner Cushing Brooks.
Brooks returned to the United States in October 1888 after having received the Order of the Rising Sun
(4th class) from Emperor Meiji
, and accepted a position at Massachusetts Agricultural College, and continued graduate study at the University of Halle in Germany
, where he earned his doctorate. He was active in the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station until his retirement in 1921, where he is remembered for introducing Japanese cultivars, including several Japanese varieties of soybean
and millet
.
In 1920, Brooks received an honorary doctorate from the Minister of Education in Japan.
After his wife died (1924) he married Grace L. Holden in 1927 at the age of seventy-six. He died in Amherst, Massachusetts
in 1938.
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in the colonization project for Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, and the eighth president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College.
Biography
Brooks was born in Scituate, MassachusettsScituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on the South Shore, midway between Boston and Plymouth. The population was 18,133 at the 2010 census....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Nathaniel Brooks and Rebecca Partridge (Cushing). He was valedictorian of the Massachusetts Agricultural College class of 1875, where he had specialized in agricultural chemistry
Agricultural chemistry
Agricultural chemistry is the study of both chemistry and biochemistry which are important in agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and beverages, and in environmental monitoring and remediation...
, and had played a part in founding Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
along with six fellow students.
After a year of graduate study, Brooks was hired as a teacher for Sapporo Agricultural College
Sapporo Agricultural College
was a school in Sapporo established in the purpose of education of student who would pioneer Hokkaidō by Kaitakushi, the local government of Hokkaidō in those days...
(SAC), in Japan, whose head teacher at that time was Brooks' former professor, William Smith Clark. Brooks arrived in Sapporo in January 1877, shortly after Clark had left the school and only a few months before the Japanese government crushed the Satsuma rebellion
Satsuma Rebellion
The was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
, the last opposition to its policy of modernization.
Immediately after his arrival, he began to deliver lectures on agricultural science and took charge of the directorship of the experimental fields. Brooks worked at the Sapporo Agricultural School for twelve years, four of which he served as the college president. Along with his teaching, Brooks made a great number of contributions as an agricultural advisor, identifying profitable crops for the northern Japanese climate and teaching courses in botany and agricultural science. He is credited with the introduction of onions, corn, beans, forage and other plants to Hokkaidō. Brooks stressed both the theoretical and practical in his classes. Students were assigned six hours of field work a week and paid by the hour.
In 1882, Brooks traveled home on leave and married. His wife, Eva Bancroft Hall Brooks returned with him to live in Sapporo until his contract expired in 1888. During this time they had two children, Rachel Bancroft Brooks and Sumner Cushing Brooks.
Brooks returned to the United States in October 1888 after having received the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
(4th class) from Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
, and accepted a position at Massachusetts Agricultural College, and continued graduate study at the University of Halle in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he earned his doctorate. He was active in the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station until his retirement in 1921, where he is remembered for introducing Japanese cultivars, including several Japanese varieties of soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
and millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
.
In 1920, Brooks received an honorary doctorate from the Minister of Education in Japan.
After his wife died (1924) he married Grace L. Holden in 1927 at the age of seventy-six. He died in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
in 1938.