Maxwell Ralph Jacobs

Maxwell Ralph Jacobs (born February 25, 1905 in North Adelaide , South Australia , † October 9, 1979 in Canberra , Australian Capital Territory ), was an Australian botanist . Its botanical author abbreviation is " Jacobs ".

Early years

Maxwell Jacobs was born the son of the teacher Isaac Jacobs and his wife, Bertha Marion Jacobs (née Shorney) . He attended schools in Adelaide and then the University of Adelaide , which he graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences (B.Sc.) in 1925 and a Master of Science in 1926. He then received a scholarship from the Waite Agricultural Research Institute .

Working life

After completing his studies, Jacobs was hired as a forest assessor at the Australian Capital Territory in 1926 and promoted to chief forester in 1928 .

A scholarship from the Commonwealth of Australia enabled him to study forestry at Oxford University , which he graduated with a diploma in 1931, and another at Tharandt Forestry College . In 1932 he received the title of Doctor of Forest Sciences from the University of Dresden .

In January 1933 Jacobs returned to Australia and took a position as a forest clerk with the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau in Canberra. He investigated the then little-known forest resources of the Northern Territory . He carried out studies on growth impairment on trees and the effects of the swaying of trees by the wind. He experimented with cuttings in the reproduction of the Monterey pines . His extensive studies of the anatomy of the bud system and the forest aspects of various eucalypts were presented in the book Growth Habit of the Eucalypts , which appeared in Canberra in 1955 and became an internationally used standard work.

In 1939 he received a scholarship from the Commonwealth Fund to Yale University . There he continued his investigations into the growth impairment and received the title Physical Doctor (Ph.D.) in 1941.

On March 19, 1942, Jacobs was drafted into the army as deputy head of engineering at Army Headquarters in Melbourne with the rank of captain. From 1943 to 1944 he served in human resources in the engineering department and was also briefly employed in Papua New Guinea . In November 1944 he was transferred to the reserve, now with the rank of major. From December 1944 he read on forestry at the Australian Forestry School in Canberra. For over 15 years, “the Doc” introduced over 300 students from Australia, New Zealand , Asia and Africa to their profession.

Jacobs was deputy director of the Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau from December 1959 and its director from May 1961. He played a leading role in establishing the Australian Forestry Council in 1964 and chaired its first committee, as well as several other forestry and timber industry organizations. He has written a number of articles on Australian forest policy.

Jacobs retired in February 1970.

Late years and death

After his retirement, Jacobs worked as a consultant for various national and international organizations, for example the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . For this organization he rewrote their guideline Eucalypts for Planting . The new edition appeared in Rome in 1979 . He completed a number of missions abroad, especially in connection with eucalyptus.

Jacobs' main hobby was golf .

Jacobs died on October 9, 1979 in Woden Valley Hospital in Canberra.

Social Commitment

Since 1927 Jacobs was a member of the Empire Forestry Association (later: Commonwealth Forestry Association ). 1963-1969 he was on the board of the organization. Jacobs was President of the Agriculture and Forestry Department of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science , the Royal Society of Canberra (1948–1949), and the Rotary Club of Canberra (1956–1957).

Family life

On December 23, 1933 Maxwell married Jacobs Phyllis Vesper Quinton in St. David's Presbyterian Church in Haberfield, Sydney . They had two daughters together.

Honors

• In 1958 Jacobs became an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry .
• In 1962 he was awarded the NWJolly Medal of the Institute of Foresters of Australia , of which he was a founding member since 1935.
• In 1966 he became an honorary member of the Society of American Foresters .
• In 1966 he was awarded the Imperial Service Order for special services in government service.
• In 1983 the Institute of Foresters of Australia awarded the MRJacobs Fund in his honor. It supports researchers under the administration of the Australian Academy of Science who carry out research in forestry or the forest industry or participate in conferences.

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• LT Carron: Jacobs, Maxwell Ralph (1905-1979) . Australian Dictionary of Biography

Web links

• Author entry and list of the described plant names for Maxwell Ralph Jacobs at the IPNI