Irene Manton
Encyclopedia
Irene Manton, FRS was a British botanist. She was noted for study of ferns, algae and bums.
. She was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School, Hammersmith.
In 1923 she attended Girton College, Cambridge
. She found Cambridge unsatisfying, in part because the university as a whole was not yet welcoming of women, and later went on to study with Otto Rosenberg
in Stockholm
. She received her PhD at University of Manchester
with her thesis being on Cruciferae
. Much of her academic career she spent at the University of Leeds
where her focus was on ferns and algae. The work with ferns, which addressed hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis, included her 1950 book, Problems of cytology and evolution in the pteridophyta. Her work on the algae was notable for its use of the electron microscope
. In 1969 she shared the Linnean Medal
with Ethelwynn Trewavas. From 1973 to 1976 she became the first, and so far only, woman President of the Linnean Society of London
.
Biography
Irene Manton was born of a dentist and a descendant of French aristocracy. Hence her first name originally contained French influences, but at 18 she dropped this and opted for "Irene". Her sister was the entomologist Sidnie MantonSidnie Manton
Sidnie Milana Manton, FRS was a British entomologist.-Early life:Sidnie Milana Manton was born in Kensington, London the daughter of a dentist. Her sister was Irene Manton , a botanist, She was educated in Kensington and at St...
. She was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School, Hammersmith.
In 1923 she attended Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
. She found Cambridge unsatisfying, in part because the university as a whole was not yet welcoming of women, and later went on to study with Otto Rosenberg
Otto Rosenberg
Otto Karl Julius Rosenberg was a Russian scholar who created a system of organizing Chinese characters in a dictionary format, which eventually resulted in the Four Corner Method....
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. She received her PhD at University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
with her thesis being on Cruciferae
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
. Much of her academic career she spent at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
where her focus was on ferns and algae. The work with ferns, which addressed hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis, included her 1950 book, Problems of cytology and evolution in the pteridophyta. Her work on the algae was notable for its use of the electron microscope
Electron microscope
An electron microscope is a type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to illuminate the specimen and produce a magnified image. Electron microscopes have a greater resolving power than a light-powered optical microscope, because electrons have wavelengths about 100,000 times shorter than...
. In 1969 she shared the Linnean Medal
Linnean Medal
The Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year...
with Ethelwynn Trewavas. From 1973 to 1976 she became the first, and so far only, woman President of the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
.