Cyril G. (Cyril George) Hopkins

Born on July 22, 1866, Cyril G. Hopkins was an American agricultural chemist whose career became closely tied to the University of Illinois. He is best known for research on soil fertility and for helping launch the Illinois long-term selection experiment in 1896, a landmark project in crop and soil science.

Hopkins wrote extensively about the soils of Illinois and argued that careful, science-based soil management was essential for lasting farm productivity. His books and bulletins were aimed not just at specialists but at working farmers and general readers, which helped make agricultural science more accessible.

He died on October 6, 1919. Though he is remembered mainly as a scientist and teacher, his legacy also lives on through clear, practical writing that influenced how generations of farmers and students understood the land.