John Arnott Spence (15 July 1929 – 6 March 2013) was a Vincentian-born Trinidadian politician, botanist, and professor emeritus. Spence served as an independent Senator in the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago from 1987 to 2000. [1]
Spence was born on 15 July 1929, on the island of Saint Vincent. He moved to Trinidad when he was 11 years old. [2] He attended Queen's Royal College and the University of Bristol, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in botany in 1951. [2] Spence then completed a post-graduate diploma in Agricultural Science at the University of Cambridge in 1952 and a second diploma in Tropical Agriculture in 1953 from the Trinidad Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in 1953. [2] He earned a doctorate in 1961 from the University of Bristol. [2]
Spence served as the head of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of the West Indies in Saint Augustine until his retirement in 1989. [1] [2] He then became the head of the Cocoa Research Unit (CRU), which he is credited with its expansion into an internationally recognized center. [2] [3]
Within the field of botany, Spence uncovered the importance of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme, which helps cocoa pods resist Phytophthora palmivora, which causes black pod disease. [2] He also developed several varieties of dwarf pigeon peas which can be harvested by machine, instead of by hand. [2]
Spence was the recipient of the gold Chaconia Medal in 1980 and the NIHERST Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. [2] He became a fellow of the Fellow of the Caribbean Academy of Science in 1990. [2]
John Spence died of a heart attack on 6 March 2013, at the age of 83. [1] He was survived by his wife, Yolande Spence, and their sons, John Malcolm Spence, Louis Spence and Richard Spence. [3] His funeral was held at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sports and Education Centre in St Augustine. [1]
John Arnott Spence (15 July 1929 – 6 March 2013) was a Vincentian-born Trinidadian politician, botanist, and professor emeritus. Spence served as an independent Senator in the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago from 1987 to 2000. [1]
Spence was born on 15 July 1929, on the island of Saint Vincent. He moved to Trinidad when he was 11 years old. [2] He attended Queen's Royal College and the University of Bristol, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in botany in 1951. [2] Spence then completed a post-graduate diploma in Agricultural Science at the University of Cambridge in 1952 and a second diploma in Tropical Agriculture in 1953 from the Trinidad Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in 1953. [2] He earned a doctorate in 1961 from the University of Bristol. [2]
Spence served as the head of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of the West Indies in Saint Augustine until his retirement in 1989. [1] [2] He then became the head of the Cocoa Research Unit (CRU), which he is credited with its expansion into an internationally recognized center. [2] [3]
Within the field of botany, Spence uncovered the importance of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme, which helps cocoa pods resist Phytophthora palmivora, which causes black pod disease. [2] He also developed several varieties of dwarf pigeon peas which can be harvested by machine, instead of by hand. [2]
Spence was the recipient of the gold Chaconia Medal in 1980 and the NIHERST Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. [2] He became a fellow of the Fellow of the Caribbean Academy of Science in 1990. [2]
John Spence died of a heart attack on 6 March 2013, at the age of 83. [1] He was survived by his wife, Yolande Spence, and their sons, John Malcolm Spence, Louis Spence and Richard Spence. [3] His funeral was held at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sports and Education Centre in St Augustine. [1]