Joseph Burtt Hutchinson, 21 March 1902 - 16 January 1988

Abstract

Joseph Burtt Hutchinson, known as ‘Jack’ to his family and friends in the U.K., but widely known as ‘Hutch’ overseas, showed, throughout his life, a rare combination of Quaker dedication to Christian principles, agricultural common sense and scientific excellence. It was this unusual combination of characteristics that enabled him to contribute to human well-being in ways that extended far beyond those demanded by his professional career. He served for more than 30 years in tropical developing countries, not only contributing to our knowledge of the genetics and taxonomy of the world’s cottons but, more generally, encouraging and stimulating science and education in the cause of development. The same underlying attributes continued to motivate his life and work when he returned to Cambridge as Professor of Agriculture and, later, in retirement. He received an Sc.D. from Cambridge in 1948, a D.Sc. honoris causa from Nottingham in 1966 and was similarly honoured by the University of East Anglia in 1971. He was awarded the Royal Society Gold Medal in 1967, made C.M.G. in 1944 and knighted in 1956.