William Charles Frank Newton (1894-1927): Cytologist

Newton studied botany at Birkbeck College, London. His course was interrupted in 1915 by war service and he did not take his degree until 1921. He gained a scholarship from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and continued to work at Birkbeck under Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, beginning an investigation of the chromosomes of Galtonia. In 1922 he joined the staff of the John Innes as cytologist at the invitation of William Bateson. Here he introduced new laboratory techniques, including methods of fixing and staining that came into general use. Under A D Hall Newton was put to work on tulips and allied genera, investigating the chromosomes as a key to the relationships between species. He also worked on tetraploid hybrids, including Primula kewensis, whose cytology and genetics were not clearly understood. During 1924-26 Newton trained C D Darlington in cytological techniques. In 1926 Newton underwent major surgery, returning to the lab in 1927 where he continued working on tulips, on colour inheritance in poppies, and on Silene. Darlington picked up Newton’s last work on triploid tulips in 1927 and this became the foundation of his work on meiosis for the next thirty years. Newton died at Merton on 22 December 1927