1923: Sir (Edward) John Russell DSc, FRS

Last updated September 2023

Sir John Russell was an agronomist, who worked in the field of agriculture and crop science at the Rothamsted ExperimentalStation. 


He was the Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station for over 30 years, between 1912 and 1943. He was the son of a Vicar, and born in Gloucestershire in 1872.

He spent a lot of time exploring issues relating to crop science, and agriculture. He had previously given an address at the GA Annual Meeting in 1921, so was known to the Association, and this was perhaps why he was in their thoughts when they needed to choose a new President. He published a great many books in his area of expertise.

It appears that he was not originally going to be the GA President. Lord Robert Cecil originally accepted the post. Sir George Adam Smith also accepted for 1923. I have added entries on these people also.

In Autumn 2021, this announcement went into 'The Geographical Teacher'

Source: “Editorial.” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 11, no. 3, 1921, pp. 131–135. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40555625. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

In his Presidential Address, he considered the Influence of Geographical Factors in the Agricultural Activities of a Population"

This included agricultural land of course.




The article describes how soil types influence the people who live in an area, and the changes that took place in agriculture from the start of the 19th century. He explores the various regions of the UK, looking at how farmers specialise to maximise production.
He visits an area I know well, where I used to live.

I like this connection. A spot of research also shows that current generations of George Thompson's family are still active as a potato farmer, perhaps still being "chipped and fried for the northern operative" (we have a lot chips up north). Some areas are still important for the same crops over 100 years later.
The report concludes with some very helpful images:


His address ends with a few important and relevant lines:

"Historians, I gather are coming to the conclusion that man is master of his destiny; geographers can safely say that he is rapidly becoming master of his environment."

The work of Rothamsted was very important as this article extract explains.
Source: http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/plantphysiol/19/3/391.full.pdf (PDF download)




He had a long career working in the field of soil science.


He died in 1965, aged 92 - another President to live to a ripe old age.

An obituary was published in 'Geography' in 1965, in an issue of the journal celebrating the centenary of A. J. Herbertson. It was written by H J Fleure and L Dudley Stamp (a great pair themselves).


It describes his work for the Association briefly.



He was described, in a small piece in 'Geography' as:

"A warm friend of the Association through many years"

At a time when food production and the food of the future is such an issue for the planet, it's good to know that GA Presidents have been at the forefront of work in this area for many decades.

Image credit from the top of the blog post - a good one).
Sir (Edward) John Russell
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 18 July 1936
NPG x84654
© National Portrait Gallery, London

References

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._John_Russell - a dapper chap in his youth...
Source of the image above

I edited this entry to add the fact that he had been the President of the GA, as I have with all the Presidents on this blog.

Fleure, H. J. “SIR E. JOHN RUSSELL, F.R.S. (1872-1965).” Geography, vol. 50, no. 4, 1965, pp. 380–381. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40565967. Accessed 12 Apr. 2020.
http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page_id__203.aspx
http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/plantphysiol/19/3/391.full.pdf

Books
Soil conditions and plant growth (1912, 1915, 1917, 1921)
Lessons on soil (1912)
The Fertility of the Soil (1913)
A student's book on soils and manures (1921)
The micro-organisms of the soil (1923)
Manuring for higher crop production (1916)

As always, if anyone has further information relating to this President, please get in touch. This is a relatively short entry.

Update

A good few additional elements from some recent discoveries.

His work in Nature:

https://www.nature.com/articles/150732a0

He increased the contacts of Rothamsted with agriculturists and farmers' organizations until the objects and work of the Station became as well known in the countryside as among men of science. Striking proof of this was given in 1934, when the experimental fields were threatened with building developments: a public appeal was issued for funds to purchase the farm, and the amount required, £35,000, was over-subscribed in less than two months.

This site has some very useful information.

A great image of Sir John. See half way down the post....

Russell was part of the renewed activity of Rothamsted - and was director for 31 years!

He had funds for a new building and library which he oversaw.

There is a link with World War I (as with much of the GA's work at this time...)

Many of Russell’s newly appointed staff had volunteered for the war, and some were killed in action. But the war underlined the need for improvements in British agriculture, and from 1918 funds became available for the expansion of the institute, with new departments and staff.

By the time Russell retired in 1943 there were 12 distinguished scientists who were Fellows of the Royal Society. Russell himself was a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Meanwhile Russell encouraged Edwin Gray, Field Superintendent, to record his reminiscences of life as an assistant worker over a long career at Rothamsted (Personal Reminiscences of Rothamsted Experimental Station, 1872-1922).

There is also some work that Russell carried out in the tropics which furthered his geographical credentials at the time.

Russell was also interested in improving agriculture in the colonies, and led the project to develop the Gezira area in Sudan for cotton and tropical crops. He travelled widely and funded overseas workers to come to Rothamsted. 

Much of his autobiography, “The Land Called Me” (Allen and Unwin, 1956) is devoted to his extension work overseas, from Africa and Palestine to India and Australia.

This is interesting to hear that he had an autobiography. I wonder whether it features any mention of his links with the Geographical Association?

In 1943 Rothamsted celebrated the centenary of the first experiments, and Sir John now 70, retired and handed over to William Gammie Ogg. The Russells retired to Oxford, but lived an active life until Sir John’s death in 1965.

The links with Section E of the British Association, and his Presidency are also significant.

I think he may also have been the President of the Le Play Society in 1960, based on an article linked to below:

Pre-publication version of Richard Clarke and Marija Anteric (2011) ‘Fanny Copeland and the Geographical Imagination’ Scottish Geographical Journal  Vol 127 No 3 pp 163 – 192 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14702541.2011.628451