Isaac Bayley Balfour
Encyclopedia
Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour FRS FRSE (31 March 1853 – 30 November 1922) was a Scottish
botanist. He was the son of John Hutton Balfour
who was also a botanist.
. At this early stage his interests and abilities were in the biological sciences, which were taught to him by his father. Due to his father's post as Professor of Botany at Edinburgh, the young Balfour was able to visit the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens, not open to the public at the time.
Balfour studied at the University of Edinburgh
, from which he graduated with first class honours in 1873, and at the universities in Warzburg and Strassburg (Strasbourg).
In 1874 Balfour participated in an astronomical expedition of 1874 to Rodrigues
. Though the stated aim of the mission was to observe Venus
, Balfour used the opportunity to investigate the local flora, and on his return, the fieldwork he had carried out permitted him to gain his doctorate.
In 1879, his father resigned the chair at Edinburgh, Glasgow professor Alexander Dickson
(1836–1887) was appointed in his place, and the younger Balfour was promoted to the chair of Regius Professor of Botany, Glasgow
in Glasgow from 1879 to 1885. He also went on to lead an expedition to Socotra
in 1880.
In 1884, he was appointed Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford
.
It was, however, after his return to Edinburgh in to take up his father's old chair from 1888 to 1922 that Balfour left his mark. His father had greatly enlarged the botanical gardens during his tenure, but Balfour completely transformed them. Having put their finances on a safer footing by transferring them to the crown, Balfour engaged himself in a major reform of the gardens, establishing a proper botanical institute, and largely redeveloping the layout of the gardens in order to have a proper arboretum
, building new laboratories and improving scientific facilities.
. Farrer provided valuable information to Balfour and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
by sending him his plant illustrations together with the field notes, botanical specimens and seeds he had collected.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
botanist. He was the son of John Hutton Balfour
John Hutton Balfour
John Hutton Balfour was a Scottish botanist. Balfour became a Professor of Botany, first at the University of Glasgow in 1841, moving to Edinburgh University and also becoming Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Her Majesty's Botanist in Scotland in 1845...
who was also a botanist.
Biography
Balfour was educated at the Edinburgh AcademyEdinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
. At this early stage his interests and abilities were in the biological sciences, which were taught to him by his father. Due to his father's post as Professor of Botany at Edinburgh, the young Balfour was able to visit the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens, not open to the public at the time.
Balfour studied at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, from which he graduated with first class honours in 1873, and at the universities in Warzburg and Strassburg (Strasbourg).
In 1874 Balfour participated in an astronomical expedition of 1874 to Rodrigues
Rodrigues
Rodrigues is a common surname in the Portuguese language. It was originally a Patronymic, meaning Son of Rodrigo or Son of Rui. The "es" signifies "son of". The name Rodrigo is the Portuguese form of Roderick, meaning "famous power" or "famous ruler", from the Germanic elements "hrod" and "ric" ,...
. Though the stated aim of the mission was to observe Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, Balfour used the opportunity to investigate the local flora, and on his return, the fieldwork he had carried out permitted him to gain his doctorate.
In 1879, his father resigned the chair at Edinburgh, Glasgow professor Alexander Dickson
Alexander Dickson (botanist)
Alexander Dickson FRSE was a Scottish botanist.Born at Edinburgh, his family had previously had members in the legal and medical professions; one of the earliest of whom any special records exist having been John Dickson of Kilbucho and Hartree, a lawyer, who in 1649 was appointed a Senator of the...
(1836–1887) was appointed in his place, and the younger Balfour was promoted to the chair of Regius Professor of Botany, Glasgow
Regius Professor of Botany, Glasgow
University of GlasgowThe Regius Chair of Botany at Glasgow University is a Regius Professorship established in 1818.A lectureship in botany had been founded in 1704. From 1718 to 1818, the subject was combined with Anatomy...
in Glasgow from 1879 to 1885. He also went on to lead an expedition to Socotra
Socotra
Socotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
in 1880.
In 1884, he was appointed Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
It was, however, after his return to Edinburgh in to take up his father's old chair from 1888 to 1922 that Balfour left his mark. His father had greatly enlarged the botanical gardens during his tenure, but Balfour completely transformed them. Having put their finances on a safer footing by transferring them to the crown, Balfour engaged himself in a major reform of the gardens, establishing a proper botanical institute, and largely redeveloping the layout of the gardens in order to have a proper arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
, building new laboratories and improving scientific facilities.
Specific interests
Balfour's interest in Sino-Himalayan plants also put him in contact with botanist and plant collector Reginald FarrerReginald Farrer
Reginald John Farrer , was a traveller and plant collector. He published a number of books, although is best known for My Rock Garden...
. Farrer provided valuable information to Balfour and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
by sending him his plant illustrations together with the field notes, botanical specimens and seeds he had collected.
Honours, Qualifications and Appointments
- 1873: Awarded Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) with first class honours, University of Edinburgh
- 1873–1878: Appointed Lecturer in Botany, Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh
- 1875: Awarded Doctor of Science degree (DSc), University of Edinburgh
- 1877: Awarded Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree (MB,ChB), University of Edinburgh
- 1877: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- 1879: Appointed Professor of Botany, University of Glasgow
- 1884: Awarded Master of Arts degree (MA), University of Oxford
- 1884: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
- 1884: Appointed Professor of Botany, University of Oxford
- 1888: Appointed Professor of Botany, University of Edinburgh
- 1897: Awarded Victoria Medal of Honour, Royal Horticultural Society
- 1901: Awarded Doctor of Laws degree (LLD), University of Glasgow
- 1919: Awarded Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society
- 1921: Awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LLD), University of Edinburgh