thumb|Lawes as caricatured by Spy ([[Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, July 1882]]

Sir John Bennet Lawes, 1st Baronet, FRS (28 December 1814 – 31 August 1900) was an English entrepreneur and agricultural scientist. He founded an experimental farm at his home at Rothamsted Manor that eventually became Rothamsted Research, where he developed a superphosphate that would mark the beginnings of the chemical fertilizer industry.

Life

John Bennet Lawes was born at Rothamsted, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, on 28 December 1814, owner of the Rothamsted estate and lord of the manor of Rothamsted. His father died when he was eight years old, so he was brought up mostly by his mother Marianne.

In 1842, he patented a manure formed by treating phosphates with sulphuric acid, and thus initiated the artificial manure industry. He was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society in 1883.

Lawes died on 31 August 1900 and Rothamsted Manor and Estates passed to his son Charles. He was buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas Church, Harpenden with his wife Caroline (née Fountaine), who predeceased him (1822- 29 November 1895). They had two children, Caroline Lawes & Charles Bennet Lawes (3 October 1843 - 6 October 1911) Charles married Maria Amelia Rose Fountaine (related?) on 8 April 1869 at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London. He became Sir Charles Bennet Lawes-Wittewronge 2nd Bt on the death of his father in 1900 (the name Witteronge was his grandmother's maiden name)

thumb|Headstone of Sir John Bennet Lawes (1814-1900) and his wife Caroline (née Fountaine) Lawes (1822-1895)

Legacy

In 1889, Lawes took measures to ensure the continued existence of the Rothamsted experimental farm by setting aside money solely for that purpose and so established The Lawes Agricultural Trust. Rothamsted Experimental Station is the oldest agricultural research facility in the world.

Sir John Lawes School in Harpenden, Herts is named after him.

The locality of Lawes, Queensland, in Australia is named after him. The main feature of that locality is the University of Queensland Gatton Campus which specialises in agriculture.

References

  • Antonio Saltini, Storia delle scienze agrarie, volume III, L'età della macchina a vapore e dei concimi industriali, Edagricole, Bologna 1989, 67–97

Further reading

  • Dyke, G.V. John Bennet Lawes: the record of his genius. Taunton, Research Studies Pr.,1991, 482p.
  • Dyke, G.V. John Lawes of Rothamsted: pioneer of science, farming and industry. Harpenden, Hoos Press, 1993, 234p.
  • LAWES, John Bennett Sir – DNB entry
  • Archive material held by Rothamsted Library
  • Correspondence of John Bennet Lawes and Joseph Henry Gilbert 1846 to 1900
  • Royal Society citation
  • History of Rothamsted Research
  • Lawes Agricultural Trust
  • Timeline of the life of Sir John Bennet Lawes