Francis John Newhook (16 November 1918 – 1 December 1999) was the head of the School of

Plant Pathology Plant pathology or phytopathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Plant pathology involves the study of pathogen identification, disease ...

at the

University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...

, New Zealand. He was the first plant pathologist at the university, from 1966 (sponsored by New Zealand Forest Products) as an associate professor, and from 1969 a personal chair. Previously he was a scientist at the DSIR. Newhook was born in Auckland on 16 November 1918. He was educated at

Auckland Grammar School Auckland Grammar School (often simplified to Auckland Grammar, or Grammar), established in 1869, is a State school, state, Day school, day and Boarding school, boarding secondary school for Single-sex education, boys in Auckland, New Zealand. ...

and the University of Auckland. He married (1) Agnes Marjorie Anderson (three children) and (2) pianist Janetta McStay. In World War II he was a Major in the 2nd NZEF in the Middle East and Italy. Newhook published extensively on

fungal A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one of the tradit ...

pathogens, especially ''

Phytophthora ''Phytophthora'' (from Greek (''phytón''), "plant" and (), "destruction"; "the plant-destroyer") is a genus of plant-damaging oomycetes (water molds), whose member species cause economic losses on crops worldwide, as well as environmental dam ...

'', and wrote over 90 scientific papers and other publications.

Recognition

Newhook was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by the University of London c.1982, and was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in the 1984 Queen's Birthday Honours. As the collector of the holotype collection, the fungus '' Dichomitus newhookii'' is named after him. In 2004,

Landcare Research Landcare may refer to: * Australian Landcare Council, a former Australian government body, superseded by the National Landcare Advisory Committee * Landcare Australia, an Australian community not-for-profit organisation, involving local volunteers ...

named one of its

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

laboratories the FJ Newhook Microbiology Laboratory in his honour.

References

*''Our Trees: a New Zealand guide'' by Frank Newhook with paintings by Elaine Power (1982, Bateman Auckland NZ) *''New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa'' (1998) 1918 births 1999 deaths Scientists from Auckland People educated at Auckland Grammar School University of Auckland alumni Botanists active in New Zealand 20th-century New Zealand botanists New Zealand mycologists New Zealand taxonomists New Zealand phytopathologists Academic staff of the University of Auckland People associated with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand) New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire 20th-century agronomists {{Mycologist-stub