James Brontë Gatenby MA, PhD, DPhil, DSc lived from 10 October 1892 to 20 July 1960.[1] He was a zoologist who is notable for his work on the structure of cells and the Golgi bodies.
Gatenby was born in Wanganui, New Zealand. He progressed from St. Patrick's College in Wellington to Jesus College, Oxford. In 1916, he graduated with a first-class degree in zoology. He remained at Oxford until 1919, first as a demonstrator in forest zoology and human embryology, then as a lecturer in histology in 1917. In 1918 he became the senior demy of Magdalen College, Oxford.[1]
Gatenby left Oxford in 1919 for a post at University College, London. He was appointed there as the senior assistant in zoology and comparative anatomy. In 1920, he was made a lecturer in cytology. In 1921, he moved to Trinity College, Dublin He was appointed professor of zoology and comparative anatomy at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1921. He became the professor of cytology. In 1922, Gatenby married Enid (Molly) Meade and they had four children, including the Medical Director of the UN, Peter Gatenby. After Molly's death in 1950, he married Constance Harris.[1]
Gatenby produced original research on many insects and the structure of their cells. His most important work was studying Golgi bodies in various animals, including humans.[1]