Scott, Dukinfield Henry (1854–1934)

English botanist who studied the anatomy of plants and, with William Crawford Williamson, described the evolutionary links between ferns and cycads, research that led to the development of phylogenetic theories of plants. His best known studies were in the field of palaeobotany, including an excellent account of the fruiting bodies of fossil plants in 1904.

Scott was born in London and educated mainly at home by tutors. His mother instilled his interest in field botany before his 14th birthday. He was competent in the use of a microscope and studied plant structure. However, he read classics at Christchurch, Oxford, and completed his training as an engineer 1872–76. In 1879, he went to the University of Würzburg, Germany to study botany under the inspiring and eminent scientist Julius Sachs. In 1882, he returned to England to take up a position at University College, London, and in 1885, he went to work under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Normal School of Science (Imperial College).

In 1892, he became the honorary director of the Jodrell Laboratory and was elected to the Royal Society 1894, receiving both the Royal medal and the Darwin medal. He was elected president of the Linnaean Society from 1908–12 and received their Gold medal 1921.