Charles Bagge Plowright
Encyclopedia
Charles Bagge Plowright (born King's Lynn
, Norfolk
, 3 April 1849; died North Wootton
, Norfolk, 24 April 1910) was a British doctor and mycologist
.
Plowright trained as a doctor at the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital, eventually becoming a surgeon there. He was also a Medical Officer for Health
for many years in Freebridge Lynn
, and was the Hunterian Professor of Comparitive Anatomy and Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons
from 1890-1894. While a professor he gave lectures on ergot
and fungi in the human body which were noted in the British Journal of Medicine.
Plowright's most significant contributions were in mycology. In 1872 he published a list of 800 Norfolk fungi in the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society and was elected an honorary member. Starting in 1873, Plowright published a series of fasciculi (pamphlets intended to be collected into a book) entitled Sphaeriacei Britannici describing members of the fungal genus
Sphaeria (species modernly placed in Pseudovalsa
, Macrospora
, Homostegia
, and others). With his collaborator W. Phillips, Plowright published a series of papers entitled New and Rare British Fungi (1871-1884) which described almost 300 new species. Plowright contributed to The Gardeners' Chronicle
for over thirty years, writing principally on fungal diseases of plants; he was an early advocate in England of the use of Bordeaux mixture
. Early in his career he made a special collection of Pyrenomycetae (now Sordariomycetes
) and published several papers on them; he later moved on to the Uredinaceae
, in 1889 publishing A Monograph of the British Uredinaea and and Ustilaginaea. He was one of the early organizers of the British Mycological Society
and served as president 1898-9.
Plowright had an interest in archaeology and published a number of articles on the subject, including several works on woad
.
Plowright also was active in his local community, serving as a local magistrate
, director and vice-chairman of a local girl's high school, and governor of the Lynn Grammar School.
merchant, and they had two children: Edith Mary (b. 1875) and Charles Tertius Maclean Plowright (1879-1935). Charles was also a surgeon and became a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps
. Edith Mary married Thomas Petch
, also a mycologist, in 1908.
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, 3 April 1849; died North Wootton
North Wootton, Norfolk
North Wootton is a village near the town of King's Lynn in Norfolk, England, and remains a separate civil parish.It covers an area of and had a population of 2,387 in 935 households as of the 2001 census....
, Norfolk, 24 April 1910) was a British doctor and mycologist
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
.
Plowright trained as a doctor at the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital, eventually becoming a surgeon there. He was also a Medical Officer for Health
Medical Officer for Health
The Medical Officer for Health is a title usually given to the head of the health department at a municipal level.In the United Kingdom, the municipal position was an elected head of the local board of health, however the term has also been used to refer to the Chief Medical Officer...
for many years in Freebridge Lynn
Freebridge Lynn Rural District
Freebridge Lynn Rural District was a rural district in Norfolk, England from 1894 to 1974.It was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 based on the Freebridge Lynn rural sanitary district, and was named after the Freebridge Lynn hundred...
, and was the Hunterian Professor of Comparitive Anatomy and Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
from 1890-1894. While a professor he gave lectures on ergot
Ergot
Ergot or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi of the genus Claviceps. The most prominent member of this group is Claviceps purpurea. This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its...
and fungi in the human body which were noted in the British Journal of Medicine.
Plowright's most significant contributions were in mycology. In 1872 he published a list of 800 Norfolk fungi in the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society and was elected an honorary member. Starting in 1873, Plowright published a series of fasciculi (pamphlets intended to be collected into a book) entitled Sphaeriacei Britannici describing members of the fungal genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Sphaeria (species modernly placed in Pseudovalsa
Pseudovalsa
Pseudovalsa is a genus of fungi within the Melanconidaceae family.-External links:* at Index Fungorum...
, Macrospora
Macrospora
Macrospora is a genus of fungi in the family Pleosporaceae. This is a monotypic genus, containing the single species Macrospora scirpicola....
, Homostegia
Homostegia
Homostegia is a genus of fungi in the class Dothideomycetes. The relationship of this taxon to other taxa within the class is unknown .- Species :* Homostegia adusta* Homostegia andina* Homostegia asparagi...
, and others). With his collaborator W. Phillips, Plowright published a series of papers entitled New and Rare British Fungi (1871-1884) which described almost 300 new species. Plowright contributed to The Gardeners' Chronicle
The Gardeners' Chronicle
The Gardeners' Chronicle was a British horticulture periodical. It lasted as a title in its own right for nearly 150 years and is still extant as part of the magazine Horticulture Week....
for over thirty years, writing principally on fungal diseases of plants; he was an early advocate in England of the use of Bordeaux mixture
Bordeaux mixture
Bordeaux mixture is a mixture of copper sulfate and slaked lime used as a fungicide in vineyards. It is used mainly to control garden, vineyard, nursery and farm infestations of fungi, primarily downy mildew which can result from infections of Plasmopara viticola. It was invented in the Bordeaux...
. Early in his career he made a special collection of Pyrenomycetae (now Sordariomycetes
Sordariomycetes
The Sordariomycetes are a class of fungi in the subdivision Pezizomycotina , consisting of 15 orders, 64 families, 1119 genera, and 10564 species.Sordariomycetes generally produce their asci in perithecial fruiting bodies....
) and published several papers on them; he later moved on to the Uredinaceae
Pucciniomycetes
The Pucciniomycetes are a class of fungi in the Pucciniomycotina subdivision of the Basidiomycota. The class contains 5 orders, 21 families, 190 genera, and 8016 species...
, in 1889 publishing A Monograph of the British Uredinaea and and Ustilaginaea. He was one of the early organizers of the British Mycological Society
British Mycological Society
The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi.-Formation:The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of Hereford and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford...
and served as president 1898-9.
Plowright had an interest in archaeology and published a number of articles on the subject, including several works on woad
Woad
Isatis tinctoria, with Woad as the common name, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is commonly called dyer's woad, and sometimes incorrectly listed as Isatis indigotica . It is occasionally known as Asp of Jerusalem...
.
Plowright also was active in his local community, serving as a local magistrate
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, director and vice-chairman of a local girl's high school, and governor of the Lynn Grammar School.
Family
Plowright married Mary Jane Lovie Robb, daughter of an EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
merchant, and they had two children: Edith Mary (b. 1875) and Charles Tertius Maclean Plowright (1879-1935). Charles was also a surgeon and became a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. Edith Mary married Thomas Petch
Tom Petch
Thomas Petch was a prolific English mycologist and plant pathologist best remembered for his work on the interaction between fungi and insects....
, also a mycologist, in 1908.