Saunders, Edith (1865–1945)

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Saunders, Edith (1865–1945)

English botanist. Name variations: Edith Rebecca Saunders. Born Oct 14, 1865, in Brighton, Sussex, England; died June 6, 1945; attended Newnham College, Cambridge, 1884–89.

One of the 1st female fellows of the Linnean Society (1905), worked as a demonstrator in natural sciences at Newnham College, Cambridge (1888–89), then lecturer (1892–1925), then director of studies in natural sciences (1889–1925); researched plant genetics and studied floral morphology; collaborated with William Bateson, a pioneer on inheritance in plants and animals; served as a society council member (1910–15) and as a vice president (1912–13) of Linnean Society; joined the British Association for the Advancement of Science (1903); served as head of the Genetical Society (1936). Received Royal Horticultural Society's Banksian Medal (1906).

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