Stiles, Walter, 1886-1966

Walter Stiles, 1886-1966, botanist. Stiles was educated at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith, London, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge where he graduated in the Natural Science Tripos Part I 1907 (First Class), Part II 1909 (First Class). From 1910-1919, Stiles was assistant lecturer in the Department of Botany, University of Leeds, and from 1918-1920 he undertook work for the Food Investigation Board. From 1919-1929 he was Professor of Botany at the University of Reading, and from 1929-1951 he was Mason Professor of Botany at the University of Birmingham. Stiles' awards were many: he won the Walsingham Medal at Cambridge in 1911, became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1928 and was awarded an Honorary D.Sc by the University of Nottingham in 1953.

Stiles wrote many books and articles, and his contributions on 'Recent advances in plant physiology', published in Science Progress, 1919-1963, based on his own meticulous reading and evaluation of the literature, helped to guide and inform research, especially in permeability, salt absorption, trace elements and nutrition deficiency in plants.

Reference: The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Report on Correspondence and Papers of Walter Stiles (1978).

For further reading about the University of Birmingham see: Eric Ives, Diane Drummond, Leonard Schwarz The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980 An Introductory History (The University of University of Birmingham Press. 2000).

From the guide to the University of Birmingham Staff Papers: Papers of Walter Stiles, 1875-1967, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)