Eleanor Anne Ormerod
Encyclopedia
Eleanor Anne Ormerod was an English
entomologist
. She was a daughter of George Ormerod
, F.R.S., author of The History of Cheshire, and was born at Sedbury Park
, Gloucestershire
. From early childhood insect
s were her interest and she had great opportunities to study them in the large estate where she grew up. She studied agriculture
in general and became a local authority on it. When, in 1868, the Royal Horticultural Society
began forming a collection of insect pests of the farm for practical purposes, Ormerod contributed greatly to it, and was awarded the Flora medal of the society.
In 1877 she published a pamphlet, Notes for Observations on Injurious Insects, which was distributed to interested persons, who in turn sent in the results of their researches, resulting in a series of Annual Series of Reports on Injurious Insects and Farm Pests. In 1881 Ormerod published a special report on the turnip-fly, and in 1882 was appointed consulting entomologist to the Royal Agricultural Society
, a post she held until 1892. For several years she was lecturer on scientific entomology at the Royal Agricultural College
, Cirencester
.
Her fame was not confined to England; she received silver and gold medals from the University of Moscow for her models of insects injurious to plants, and her treatise on The Injurious Insects of South Africa showed how wide was her range. In 1899 she received a silver medal from the Société nationale d'acclimatation de France.
Her works on natural history
were widely cited and she undertook brave experiments:
Among other works are the Cobden Journals, Manual of Injurious Insects, and Handbook of Insects injurious to Orchard and Bush Fruits. Almost the last honour which fell to her was the honorary degree of LL.D. of Edinburgh University - a unique distinction, for she was the first woman upon whom the university had conferred this degree. The dean of the legal faculty summarised Ormerod's contributions:
On the death of her father she and her sisters moved to Torquay but then relocated to Spring Grove, Isleworth to be near to Kew Gardens where she had close friends in Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker, the garden's director.
In 1887 she moved to Torrington House, 47 Holywell Hill, St Albans
, Hertfordshire with her sister Georgiana Elizabeth Ormerod. She died there on 19 July 1901. The building bears a plaque in her honour.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
. She was a daughter of George Ormerod
George Ormerod
George Ormerod was an English antiquary and historian. Amongst his writings was a major account of the history of Cheshire, a county in northwestern England.-Biography:...
, F.R.S., author of The History of Cheshire, and was born at Sedbury Park
Sedbury
Sedbury is a village in the Forest of Dean district of west Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the eastern bank of the River Wye, facing the Welsh town of Chepstow...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. From early childhood insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s were her interest and she had great opportunities to study them in the large estate where she grew up. She studied agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in general and became a local authority on it. When, in 1868, the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
began forming a collection of insect pests of the farm for practical purposes, Ormerod contributed greatly to it, and was awarded the Flora medal of the society.
In 1877 she published a pamphlet, Notes for Observations on Injurious Insects, which was distributed to interested persons, who in turn sent in the results of their researches, resulting in a series of Annual Series of Reports on Injurious Insects and Farm Pests. In 1881 Ormerod published a special report on the turnip-fly, and in 1882 was appointed consulting entomologist to the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
, a post she held until 1892. For several years she was lecturer on scientific entomology at the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
, Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
.
Her fame was not confined to England; she received silver and gold medals from the University of Moscow for her models of insects injurious to plants, and her treatise on The Injurious Insects of South Africa showed how wide was her range. In 1899 she received a silver medal from the Société nationale d'acclimatation de France.
Her works on natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
were widely cited and she undertook brave experiments:
Among other works are the Cobden Journals, Manual of Injurious Insects, and Handbook of Insects injurious to Orchard and Bush Fruits. Almost the last honour which fell to her was the honorary degree of LL.D. of Edinburgh University - a unique distinction, for she was the first woman upon whom the university had conferred this degree. The dean of the legal faculty summarised Ormerod's contributions:
On the death of her father she and her sisters moved to Torquay but then relocated to Spring Grove, Isleworth to be near to Kew Gardens where she had close friends in Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker, the garden's director.
In 1887 she moved to Torrington House, 47 Holywell Hill, St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire with her sister Georgiana Elizabeth Ormerod. She died there on 19 July 1901. The building bears a plaque in her honour.
Partial list of publications
- Report of observations of attack of turnip fly in 1881 (1882) ;
- Manual of injurious insects with methods of prevention and remedy for their attacks to food crops, forest trees and fruit: to which is appended a short introduction to entomology (1890) ;
- Paris-green (or Emerald-green): its uses, and methods for its application, as a means of destruction of orchard moth caterpillars (1891)
- Handbook of insects injurious to orchards and bush fruits with means of prevention and remedy (1898)
- Flies injurious to stock : being life-histories and means of prevention of a few kinds commonly injurious, with special observations on ox warble or bot fly (1900)