Sir Charles Edward Saunders 1867-1937

Born at London, educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins, Saunders was Dominion Cerealist at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa (1903-22), and there, in 1904, developed the famous Marquis wheat which was first used by farmers in 1910. An improved variety of Marquis, introduced in 1947, bears his name. He also developed Ruby, Garnet and Reward, wheat varieties particularly adapted to Prairie conditions. His enormous contributions to agriculture were recognized in his election to the Royal Society of Canada in 1921 and in his being named as first recipient of the Flavelle Medal in 1925. He died at Toronto.