Desmond Herbert
Encyclopedia
Desmond Andrew Herbert CMG
(17 June 1898–8 September 1976) was an Australia
n botanist.
The son of a fruit-grower, Herbert was born in Diamond Creek
, Victoria
in 1898; was educated at Malvern State School and the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, then matriculated to the University of Melbourne
, from which he obtained a B.Sc. in 1918 and a M.Sc. in 1920.
He began his botanic career in 1919 as a botanical assistant in the Explosives Section of Western Australia
's Mines Department. He was later appointed Economic Botanist and Plant Pathologist for Western Australia, and also lectured part-time in agricultural botany and plant pathology at the University of Western Australia
. During this time he made a number of collecting expeditions in south-west
Western Australia, and published a number of plant taxa, of which Logania tortuosa, Melaleuca coronicarpa, Daviesia uniflora, Xanthorrhoea brevistyla and Xanthorrhoea nana (Dwarf Grasstree) remain current. In 1921, he published a book, The Poison Plants of Western Australia.
In 1921, Herbert took up a position as Professor of Plant Physiology and Pathology at the University of the Philippines
. On 11 December 1922 he married his assistant Vera McNeilance Prowse, daughter of John Henry Prowse
; they would have two sons and two daughters. Herbert returned to Australia in 1924, joining the Botany Department of the University of Queensland
. Initially his position was that of lecturer, but in 1929 he obtained his D.Sc. from the University of Melbourne, and he was awarded an honorary D.Sc. by the University of Queensland in 1935. In 1946 he was promoted to associate professor; two years later he was appointed acting professor, and shortly afterwards foundation professor of botany. He was later made Dean of the Faculty of Science.
Herbert was President of the Queensland Naturalists' Club in 1926; of the Royal Society of Queensland
in 1928; of the botany section of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
in 1932; of the Horticultural Society of Queensland from 1936 to 1942; of the Orchid Society of Queensland in 1940; and of the Queensland branch of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science in 1942. He lectured on horticulture for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
, judged garden competitions, and wrote for the Sunday Mail
. In 1952 he published a compilation of his Sunday Mail articles entitled Gardening in Warm Climates. During World War II
he helped select sites for research into chemical warfare
, and co-wrote a survival manual for the Royal Australian Air Force
entitled Friendly Fruits and Vegetables.
Herbert retired in 1965, and a year later was appointed CMG
. He died in Royal Brisbane Hospital on 8 September 1976, and his body was cremated.
One of his sons, John Desmond, was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
, and a minister in Frank Nicklin
's Country Party
government. A daughter, Joan Winifred (Cribb), herself became a botanist of some renown.
Eucalyptus herbertiana was named in his honour.
He was red-green colour blind
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(17 June 1898–8 September 1976) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n botanist.
The son of a fruit-grower, Herbert was born in Diamond Creek
Diamond Creek, Victoria
Diamond Creek is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1898; was educated at Malvern State School and the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, then matriculated to the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, from which he obtained a B.Sc. in 1918 and a M.Sc. in 1920.
He began his botanic career in 1919 as a botanical assistant in the Explosives Section of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
's Mines Department. He was later appointed Economic Botanist and Plant Pathologist for Western Australia, and also lectured part-time in agricultural botany and plant pathology at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. During this time he made a number of collecting expeditions in south-west
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
Western Australia, and published a number of plant taxa, of which Logania tortuosa, Melaleuca coronicarpa, Daviesia uniflora, Xanthorrhoea brevistyla and Xanthorrhoea nana (Dwarf Grasstree) remain current. In 1921, he published a book, The Poison Plants of Western Australia.
In 1921, Herbert took up a position as Professor of Plant Physiology and Pathology at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
. On 11 December 1922 he married his assistant Vera McNeilance Prowse, daughter of John Henry Prowse
John Prowse
John Henry Prowse was an Australian politician. Born in Adelong, New South Wales, he was educated at public schools and then at Kings College, Melbourne. He became an insurance agent and then a station owner in Western Australia, where he eventually became a Perth City Councillor, serving as Mayor...
; they would have two sons and two daughters. Herbert returned to Australia in 1924, joining the Botany Department of the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. Initially his position was that of lecturer, but in 1929 he obtained his D.Sc. from the University of Melbourne, and he was awarded an honorary D.Sc. by the University of Queensland in 1935. In 1946 he was promoted to associate professor; two years later he was appointed acting professor, and shortly afterwards foundation professor of botany. He was later made Dean of the Faculty of Science.
Herbert was President of the Queensland Naturalists' Club in 1926; of the Royal Society of Queensland
Royal Society of Queensland
The Royal Society of Queensland was formed in Queensland, Australia in 1884, with royal patronage granted in 1885.The aim of the Society is "Increasing awareness of natural sciences in Queensland"....
in 1928; of the botany section of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
The Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science is an organisation that was founded in 1888 by Archibald Liversidge as the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science to promote science. It was modelled on the British Association for the Advancement of Science...
in 1932; of the Horticultural Society of Queensland from 1936 to 1942; of the Orchid Society of Queensland in 1940; and of the Queensland branch of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science in 1942. He lectured on horticulture for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, judged garden competitions, and wrote for the Sunday Mail
The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)
The Sunday Mail is Brisbane's only Sunday newspaper. The Sunday Mail is published in tabloid format, comprising several sections that can be extracted and read separately.-Publishing:...
. In 1952 he published a compilation of his Sunday Mail articles entitled Gardening in Warm Climates. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he helped select sites for research into chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
, and co-wrote a survival manual for the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
entitled Friendly Fruits and Vegetables.
Herbert retired in 1965, and a year later was appointed CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
. He died in Royal Brisbane Hospital on 8 September 1976, and his body was cremated.
One of his sons, John Desmond, was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
, and a minister in Frank Nicklin
Frank Nicklin
Sir George Francis Reuben Nicklin, KCMG, MM was Premier of the Australian state of Queensland from 1957 to 1968, and the first Country Party Premier since 1932.-Early life and career:...
's Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
government. A daughter, Joan Winifred (Cribb), herself became a botanist of some renown.
Eucalyptus herbertiana was named in his honour.
He was red-green colour blind
Color blindness
Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the inability or decreased ability to see color, or perceive color differences, under lighting conditions when color vision is not normally impaired...
.