GEDDES, SIR PATRICK British biologist and sociologist, was born at Perth on Oct. 20. Trained in biology in the laboratory of T. H. Huxley, University College, London, and at several continental universities, he became suc cessively demonstrator in physiology at University College, Lon don, in zoology at Aberdeen and in botany at Edinburgh. In 1883 he was appointed professor of botany at University College, Dundee, and in 1919 became professor of sociology and civics at Bombay university. Geddes did pioneer research in the evolu tion of sex. His interest from the beginning was in the relation of biological science to society, and in particular to the problems of civics. His Outlook Tower in Edinburgh was for many years a stimulating laboratory of sociological enquiry, from which sprang a publishing house in Edinburgh and the regional survey movement, with its synthetic study of the organic relationship between city, country and industrial area—the theme of count less lectures and papers by Geddes, and of group meetings in many countries throughout a period of more than thirty years. Geddes, while retaining his professorship of botany at Dundee, was one of the founders of the Sociological Society in London (1903), giving attention mainly to the civic aspect of its work. Going in 1914 to London, he organised a civic exhibition. During his professorship in Bombay he made surveys and reports on many Indian cities and gardens, and in Jerusalem produced de signs for enlarging the city and for the several university colleges. In collaboration with J. Arthur Thomson he wrote The Evolution of Sex (1889, rev. ed. 1901) and other works on kindred subjects.
His works include Cities in Evolution (1913) and The Life and Works of Sir Jagadis Chandra Bose (q.v.), the Bengali physicist (192o).