John Boyd Orr - World Citizen

Bridgefoot Cottages

Orr returned to Aberdeen after the war and was appointed Director in 1919. With a staff of four, research started in the Craibstone laboratory.

Only a small research unit was intended: "Neither the government departments concerned nor the local authorities had any idea of establishing an Institute." said Boyd Orr in his memoirs. But Orr had a vision of a properly equipped and funded Institute where research on nutrition in animals and man could be carried out.

Rowett Institute

The Government finally agreed to pay half the costs of a new institute, but stipulated that the other half was to be found from other sources.

Orr was fortunate to meet John Quiller Rowett, a wealthy man who was the Director of a wine and spirits merchants based in London.

In 1920 Rowett provided money to purchase 41 acres to provide a suitable site for the Institute to be built on. In addition, Rowett contributed £10,000 towards the cost of the buildings. It's easy to see why it was decided to name the Institute after him.

Queen Mary planting a tree

The money was given with one very important condition: Namely that "…if any work done at the Institute on animal nutrition was found to have a bearing on human nutrition, the Institute would be allowed to follow up this work." The Institute was formally opened in 1922 by Queen Mary with a tree planting ceremony.

The subsequent development of the Institute, the building of the Reid Library, main laboratory block and Strathcona House, were all down to the eloquence, determination and persistence of Boyd Orr as he persuaded our many benefactors to part with considerable sums of money.

Original Laboratory

Orr's early research at the new Rowett Institute was concerned with the mineral content of pastures and the importance of vitamins and minerals in the diet of farm animals.