13 Facts About Ethel Sargant

Ethel Sargant was a British botanist who studied both the cytology and morphology of plants.

Ethel Sargant was one of the first female members of the Linnean Society and the first woman to serve on their council.

Ethel Sargant was the first woman to preside over a Section of the British Association.

Ethel Sargant was the third daughter of barrister Henry Sargant and his wife Catherine Emma Beale.

Ethel Sargant studied at North London Collegiate School under Frances Mary Buss at a time when all girls schools were considered an "adventurous experiment" and from 1881 to 1885 at Girton College, Cambridge.

Ethel Sargant's sister Mary Sargant Florence was a painter and feminist, while her brother Sir Charles Sargant was a senior judge.

Ethel Sargant worked with Margaret Jane Benson, head of the Department of Botany at Royal Holloway College, and travelled with her throughout Europe in 1897 to acquire equipment and knowledge to set up that school's laboratory.

Ethel Sargant spent some years doing botanical work at home while she cared for her mother and sister.

Ethel Sargant employed Ethel Thomas and Agnes Arber as research assistants.

In December 1904, Ethel Sargant was elected one of the first women to become a fellow of the Linnean Society of London, and she became the first female on their council.

Ethel Sargant was elected an Honorary Fellow of Girton College in 1913 and was President of the British Federation of University Women from 1913 until 1918.

Ethel Sargant was the President of the Botanical Section at the British Association meeting at Birmingham in 1913.

Ethel Sargant bequeathed her botanical library and bookcases to Girton College.