James Wyllie Gregor

Dr James Wyllie Gregor CBE FRSE FLS FIB (1900–1980) was a Scottish botanist. He served as director of the Scottish Plant Breeding Station from 1950 to 1965.

Life

He was born on Innerwick Farm near Dunbar on 14 January 1900, in the opening days of the 20th century. He was educated at St Mary's Preparatory School in Melrose then Edinburgh Academy. His education was interrupted by the First World War, joining the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and not returning to civilian life until 1919.

He then studied at the East of Scotland Agricultural College, before taking a postgraduate course at Edinburgh University gaining a doctorate (PhD) in 1926. He began working at the Scottish Plant Breeding Station in 1924, rising to be its director. In 1929 he was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society. He was granted a second doctorate (DSc) by Edinburgh University in 1939. In 1957 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Alan William Greenwood, Stephen John Watson, Hugh Paterson Donald, and William Black. In 1961 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British empire (CBE).

In later life he lived at the Old Mill House, Lanark Road West in Balerno, south-west of Edinburgh. He died on 30 September 1980.

Family

In 1929, he married Mary Joanne Farquharson.