Ernest Jackson Lawson Soulsby, Baron Soulsby of Swaffham Prior (23 June 1926 – 8 May 2017) was a British

microbiologist A microbiologist (from Greek ) is a scientist who studies microscopic life forms and processes. This includes study of the growth, interactions and characteristics of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, and some types of par ...

and

parasitologist Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question but by their way of life. This means it f ...

. In 1990 he was made a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

life peer and sat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

until his retirement in December 2015.

Biography

Soulsby was brought up in the former county of Westmorland on the family farm at Williamsgill, Newbiggin, Temple Sowerby. He was educated at

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) is a coeducational selective grammar school in Penrith, Cumbria, England. The school has approximately 1040 pupils. The headteacher is David Marchant, who took over in September 2022. The headteacher from Se ...

, and then at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

.Who's Who 2007 Published by A & C Black Publishers Ltd Soulsby was Professor of Animal Pathology at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

from 1978 to 1993. He was a

Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

Wolfson College, Cambridge Wolfson College () is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates. The college also admits "mature" undergraduates (aged 21 and above), with around ...

from 1978. Soulsby was a Veterinary Officer for the

City of Edinburgh Council The City of Edinburgh Council (Scottish Gaelic: ''Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann'') is the local government authority covering the City of Edinburgh council area. Almost half of the council area is the built-up area of Edinburgh, capital of Sco ...

from 1949 to 1952, and then a lecturer in Clinical Parasitology at the

University of Bristol The University of Bristol is a public university, public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Br ...

from 1952 to 1954. From 1954 to 1963 Soulsby was a lecturer in Animal Pathology at the University of Cambridge. He was Professor of Parasitology at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

until 1978, when he returned to the University of Cambridge as Professor of Animal Pathology. Before his retirement, Soulsby was also a visiting professor at various universities in Europe and the United States. He was an honorary member of numerous international parasitology societies and has been awarded numerous honorary degrees and awards. Soulsby was a member of the Council of the

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom, established in 1844 by royal charter. It is responsible for monitoring the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the ...

from 1978 and was President of the

Royal Society of Medicine The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is a medical society based at 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK. It is a registered charity, with admission through membership. Its Chief Executive is Michele Acton. History The Royal Society of Medicine (R ...

from 1998 to 2000, past President of the

and was emeritus fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. He was created a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

on 22 May 1990 as Baron Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, of

Swaffham Prior Swaffham Prior is a small village in East Cambridgeshire, England. Lying 5 miles west of Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, and two miles south west of Burwell, Cambridgeshire, Burwell, the village is often paired with its neighbour Swaffham Bulbe ...

in the County of Cambridgeshire and was introduced in the

on 12 June 1990, where he sat as a

until his retirement on 31 December 2015. He served on the Government's inquiry into fox hunting and was an expert adviser to the UK Government on animal welfare, science and technology, biotechnology and environmental issues. He was in addition the President of the

Parliamentary and Scientific Committee The UK Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (P&SC) is a United Kingdom parliamentary organization established in 1939. It is an all-party parliamentary group. Overview The P&SC provides a forum for scientific and technological issues in the UK. ...

and the President of the Royal Institute of Public Health until 2008, when it merged with the Royal Society of Health to become the

Royal Society for Public Health Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is an independent, multi-disciplinary charity concerned with the improvement of the public's health. RSPH's Chief Executive is William Roberts, while its current president is Professor Lord Patel of Bradf ...

(RSPH). He served the new body as president until the end of 2009 and was an Honorary Fellow of the RSPH. Soulsby was also veterinary surgeon to Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. He published 14 books, as well as articles in various veterinary journals. In 1962, Soulsby married Annette Williams. Soulsby died on 8 May 2017 at his home in Swaffham Prior at the age of 90.

References

External links

Lord Soulsby's page at TheyWorkForYou.com
* Who's Who 2007 Published by A & C Black Publishers Ltd

Selected works

* Textbook of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology

965 Year 965 ( CMLXV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor Nikephoros II conquers the fortress cities of Tarsus and Mopsuestia. The Muslim resid ...

* Biology of Parasites

966 Year 966 (Roman numerals, CMLXVI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * 23 June - Arab-Byzantine Wars, Byzantine-Arab War: Arab-Byzantine prisoner exchanges, A prisoner excha ...

* Epidemiology and Control of Nematodiasis in Cattle

981 Year 981 ( CMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – Emperor Otto II (the Red) leads the imperial court to Rome, making the city his imperial capital, and receiv ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soulsby, Lawson 1926 births 2017 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh British microbiologists British parasitologists Conservative Party (UK) life peers Fellows of Wolfson College, Cambridge People educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith Presidents of the Royal Society of Medicine Life peers created by Elizabeth II Peers retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014