Paul Axel Boving

Paul Axel Boving was born at Stora Månstorp farm near Anderslöv in Skåne,
Sweden. His faher Bernhard Böving was a prominent farmer in south Skåne.
After graduation from school Paul Boving worked for some years at different jobs
related to farming, from farm labourer to farm inspector and administrator on
farms in Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Paul Axel graduated from the renowned Alnarp Agricultural Institute in 1899.
During the following years he went on several study trips to different European
countries. He became a teacher for a time at Ronneby agricultural and folk high
school.
Paul became manager at “Fröodlingens fröhandel” in Gothenburg, which was
affiliated with the world renowned grain and seed company in Svalöv. When the
Gothenburg company changed hands in 1908, Paul Axel decided to emigrate to
Canada.
He went to Ottawa where he found a job at the government agricultural research
station. His first job was to clena out the sewage pipe at the pig barn! All went
well and after two months he was promoted to foreman.He worked hard and was
soon recognized for his knowledge and abilities and was invited to the wellknown
agricultural institute, MacDonald College at McGill University, as a supervisor for
research.
He distinguished himself by writing a scientific thesis which his superiors
considered to be of significant value and he was promoted at the college.
When the new University of B.C. was organized in 1916, Paul Boving was one of
3 men emplyed by the faculty of agriculture as assistant professor.
In 1918 he was appointed extra ordinary professor and when his superior,
professor J.S Klink, was appointed preident of UBC, P.A.Boving became
professor of agriculture.
Professor Boving was very respected and popular with is his students and his
colleagues who appreciated him for his wide knowledge.
When professor Boving retired in 1939, UBC honoured him with a honorary
doctors degree in law.
Professor Boving was married to Lynette Hope Wren. She was a descendant of the
famous British architect Sir Christopher Wren. They had two children, a daughter Ellen Maria and a son Per Arvid Christopher.
Paul Axel Boving died in 1947.