Benjamin Minge Duggar
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Minge Duggar was an American
plant physiologist, born at Gallion
, Hale County
, Alabama
. He studied at several Southern schools, including Alabama Polytechnic Institute
(B.S.
, 1891), and at Harvard
, Cornell
(Ph.D.
, 1898), and in Germany
, Italy
, and France
. As a specialist in botany
, he held various positions in experiment station
s and colleges until 1901, when he was appointed physiologist in the Bureau of Plant Industry
, United States Department of Agriculture
, for which he wrote bulletins. He was professor
of botany at the University of Missouri
from 1902 to 1907 and thereafter held the chair of plant physiology at Cornell. He was vice president of the Botanical Society of America
in 1912 and 1914. From 1917 to 1919, he was acting professor of biological chemistry at the Washington University Medical School
. Surprisingly, he is best remembered for an achievement in another discipline occurring in the late 1940s, his discovery of chlortetracycline (Aureomycin), the first of the tetracycline antibiotics, from a soil bacterium growing in allotment soil. Professor Duggar contributed many articles to botanical magazines. His publications include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
plant physiologist, born at Gallion
Gallion, Alabama
Gallion is an unincorporated community in Hale County, Alabama. It was named in honor of Jo Gallion, a railroad official. Gallion has a post office with a ZIP code of 36742 . Gallion has one site on the National Register of Historic Places, a plantation house known as Waldwic.-Geography:Gallion...
, Hale County
Hale County, Alabama
Hale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Confederate officer Stephen Fowler Hale. As of 2010 the population was 15,760. Its county seat is Greensboro and it is part of the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He studied at several Southern schools, including Alabama Polytechnic Institute
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
(B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, 1891), and at Harvard
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...
, Cornell
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
(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...
, 1898), and 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...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. As a specialist 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...
, he held various positions in experiment station
Agricultural experiment station
An agricultural experiment station is a research center that conducts scientific investigations to solve problems and suggest improvements in the food and agriculture industry...
s and colleges until 1901, when he was appointed physiologist in the Bureau of Plant Industry
Bureau of Plant Industry
Bureau of Plant Industry may be:*Bureau of Plant Industry , an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Agriculture*Bureau of Plant Industry , an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture...
, United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, for which he wrote bulletins. He was professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of botany at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
from 1902 to 1907 and thereafter held the chair of plant physiology at Cornell. He was vice president of the Botanical Society of America
Botanical Society of America
The Botanical Society of America represents professional and amateur botanists, researchers, educators and students in over 80 countries of the world...
in 1912 and 1914. From 1917 to 1919, he was acting professor of biological chemistry at the Washington University Medical School
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. Surprisingly, he is best remembered for an achievement in another discipline occurring in the late 1940s, his discovery of chlortetracycline (Aureomycin), the first of the tetracycline antibiotics, from a soil bacterium growing in allotment soil. Professor Duggar contributed many articles to botanical magazines. His publications include:
- Fungous Diseases of Plants (1909)
- Plant Physiology (1911)
- Mushroom Growing (1915)