Marjory Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Marjory Stephenson, MBE
, FRS
(24 January 1885 - 12 December 1948) was a British biochemist. She was one of the first two women (the other being Kathleen Lonsdale
) elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1945.
She was the author of the textbook Bacterial Metabolism, and the second president of the Society for General Microbiology
. The Marjory Stephenson Memorial Lecture (now Marjory Stephenson Prize
Lecture), was established in 1953 in her memory. This is the Society's principal prize, awarded biennially for an outstanding contribution of current importance in microbiology.
In 1919 she moved to the biochemistry laboratory of Newnham College and specialized in bacterial metabolic studies.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(24 January 1885 - 12 December 1948) was a British biochemist. She was one of the first two women (the other being Kathleen Lonsdale
Kathleen Lonsdale
Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, DBE FRS was a crystallographer, who established the structure of benzene by X-ray diffraction methods in 1929, and hexachlorobenzene by Fourier spectral methods in 1931...
) elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1945.
She was the author of the textbook Bacterial Metabolism, and the second president of the Society for General Microbiology
Society for General Microbiology
The Society for General Microbiology is a learned society based in the United Kingdom but with members in more than 60 countries. With approximately 5000 members, it is the largest microbiological society in Europe...
. The Marjory Stephenson Memorial Lecture (now Marjory Stephenson Prize
Marjory Stephenson Prize
The Marjory Stephenson Prize is the principal prize of the Society for General Microbiology, awarded biennially for an outstanding contribution of current importance in microbiology....
Lecture), was established in 1953 in her memory. This is the Society's principal prize, awarded biennially for an outstanding contribution of current importance in microbiology.
Early life
In 1911 she began research on fat metabolism at University College, London and taught advanced nutrition. During the First World War she worked for the Red Cross, running hospital kitchens in France and a nurses' convalescent home in Salonika. She was mentioned in dispatches and was made MBE for her War effort.In 1919 she moved to the biochemistry laboratory of Newnham College and specialized in bacterial metabolic studies.
External links
- Newnham College – Newnham Biographies – Marjory Stephenson (1885 - 1948)
- Marjory Stephenson, 1885–1948, by Joan Mason, in Cambridge Women, ed. Edward Shils & Carmen Blacker, Cambridge University Press 1996