Background
Brink, Royal Alexander was born on September 16, 1897 in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Son of Royal Wilson and Elizabeth Ann (Cuthbert) Brink. came to the United States, 1920, naturalized, 1933.
Brink, Royal Alexander was born on September 16, 1897 in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Son of Royal Wilson and Elizabeth Ann (Cuthbert) Brink. came to the United States, 1920, naturalized, 1933.
Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture, Ontario Agricultural College, 1919; Master of Science, University of Illinois, 1921; Doctor of Science, Harvard University, 1923; postgraduate (National Research Council fellow), Institut für Vererbungsforschung, Berlin and Birmingham U., United Kingdom, 1925-1926; postgraduate (National Research Council fellow), California Institute Technology, 1938-1939.
Brink was instrumental to the beginning of the Wisconsin maize breeding program during the 1920s. He also served as chair of the Department of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1939 through 1951. Brink was also very interested in agriculture, creating new varieties of clover and alfalfa during his career.
Brink was awarded many honors during his lifetime. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1947. He was also an editor of the Genetics Society of America's journal, Genetics, from 1952 through 1957 and served as president of the society in 1957.
Brink is the subject of a posthumous biographical memoir by his fellow geneticists Oliver E. Nelson, Jr., and Ray D. Owen and published by the National Academy of Sciences.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science. Member American Genetics Association, Genetics Society American (president 1957), Botanical Society American, American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Society Naturalists (pres.1963), National Academy Sciences, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Univesity Club, Sigma Xi (president Wisconsin chapter 1940-1941), Phi Sigma, Phi Eta.
Married Edith Margaret Whitelaw, December 27, 1922 (deceased May, 1962). Children: Andrew Whitelaw, Margaret Alexandra. Married Joyce Hickling, October 19, 1963.