Person

Prescott, James Arthur (1890 - 1987)

FAA FRS

Born
7 October 1890
Bolton, Lancashire, England
Died
6 February 1987
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Occupation
Agricultural scientist

Summary

James Prescott was Director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide from 1938. Earlier he was Chief of the Division of Soils CSIR from 1929 and Professor of Agricultural Chemistry, University of Adelaide from 1924. He was the father of J.R. Prescott. Much of Pescott's research was in soil science, while he also ventured into climatology, geomorphology and geochronology, as well as wine research. He was active in professional organisations, holding office as President of several, and was similarly involved in the activities of the Royal Society of South Australia.

The J. A. Prescott Medal, inaugurated by the Australian Society of Soil Science in 1971, is named in his honour.

Details

Chronology

1911
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Manchester, United Kingdom
1912 - 1916
Career position - Ministry of Agriculture Research Scholar, Rothamsted Experimental Station, United Kingdom
1916 - 1924
Career position - Chief Chemist and Superintendent of Field Experiments, Bahtim Experimental Station, Sultanic Agricultural Society Egypt
1919
Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Manchester, United Kingdom
1919 - 1924
Career position - Member, Cairo Scientific Society
1921 - 1987
Career position - Associate Member, Royal Institute of Chemistry, United Kingdom
1924 - 1955
Career position - Professor of Agricultural Chemistry, Waite Agricultural Research Institute
1924 - 1964
Career position - Foundation Member, International Society of Soil Science
1925 - 1987
Award - Fellow, Chemical Society of London
1925 - 1987
Award - Fellow, Royal Society of South Australia
1927 - 1929
Career position - Chief, CSIR Murray River Soil Investigation Unit
1927 - 1930
Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of South Australia
1929 - 1931
Career position - Member of Committee, South Australian Branch, Australian Chemical Institute
1929 - 1947
Career position - Chief (part-time), CSIR Division of Soils
1931
Award - H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Australian Chemical Institute
1932
Career event - Elected Member (Chemistry), Australian National Research Council
1932
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Adelaide
1932 - 1933
Career position - President, Royal Society of South Australia
1934 - 1937
Career position - Member of Committee, South Australian Branch, Australian Chemical Institute
1935 - 1939
Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of South Australia
1936 - 1937
Career position - President, Australian Chemical Institute
1937
Career position - President, Section K (Agriculture and Forestry), Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1938
Award - Sir Joseph Verco Medal, Royal Society of South Australia
1938 - 1955
Career position - Director, Waite Agricultural Research Institute
1938 - 1955
Career position - Foundation Member, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1938 - 1955
Career position - Chairman, CSIR(O) Oenological Research Committee
1940 - 1941
Career position - President, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1942 - 1987
Career position - Member, Society of Chemical Industry
1944 - 1953
Award - Fellow, Australian Chemical Institute
1947
Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
1948
Award - John Lewis Medal, South Australian Branch, Royal Geographical Society
1948
Award - Farrer Memorial Medal, Farrer Memorial Trust
1948 - 1987
Award - Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, United Kingdom
1948 - 1987
Career position - Member, British Society of Soil Science
1950
Award - Australian Medal of Agricultural Science, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1953 - 1987
Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1953 - 1987
Award - Petitioner for the Academy, Founding Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1954
Award - Mueller Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1955 - 1962
Career position - Editor, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia
1955 - 1970
Career position - Member of Council and scientific advisor, Australian Wine Research Institute
1955 - 1987
Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
1955 - 1987
Award - Honorary Life Member, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1956 -
Career position - Emeritus Professor, University of Adelaide
1956
Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgrSc), honoris causa, University of Melbourne
1961 - 1987
Award - Honorary Member, Australian Society of Soil Science
1962 - 1966
Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of South Australia
1964 - 1987
Award - Honorary Life Member, International Society of Soil Science
1971
Life event - Commemorated by J. A. Prescott Medal, established in 1971 by the Australian Society of Soil Science for outstanding contributions to soil science and climatology

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

  • James Arthur Prescott - Records, 1806 - 1986, MS 166; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Waite Agricultural Research Institute

  • James Arthur Prescott - Records, 1947 - 1956; Waite Agricultural Research Institute. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

Journal Articles

  • Prescott, J. A., 'Presidential address: The classification and mapping of soils [Section K - Agriculture and Forestry]', Report of the twenty-third meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science, Auckland meeting, January, 1937 (1937), 258-271. Details
  • Prescott, J. A., 'Obituary: A. E. V. Richardson', Australian Journal of Science, 13 (4) (1951), 102-103. Details
  • Prescott, J. A., 'Agricultural Sciences', Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia, lxxvii (1954), vii-xi. Details
  • Stephens, C. G.; and Quirk, J. P., 'James Arthur Prescott, 7 October 1890 - 6 February 1987, elected F.R.S. 1951', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 34 (1988), 641-68. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1988.0021. Details
  • Stephens, C.G.; and Quirk, J.P., 'James Arthur Prescott 1890-1987', Historical Records of Australian Science, 7 (3) (1988), 299-313. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9880730299. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn

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