Michael J. Ellis

Michael J Ellis also known as Michael Ellis is a British playwright noted for a series of stage works produced at a time when the representation of black and ethnic minority experience on the British stage was expanding and exploring new ground. In an article exploring the black writing of the eighties The Guardian noted: ‘one might have expected a rush of theatrical writing about growing up black in Britain. Both Michael Ellis ( Chameleon, 1985, A Temporary Rupture, 1989) and Tunde Ikoli ( Scrape Off the Black, 1981), wrote about these experiences.’

Ellis’ stage plays include ‘Chameleon,’ ‘Temporary Rupture’ and ‘Bitter and Twisted’ he also works as a television scriptwriter with credits including Desmonds, EastEnders and ‘The Real McCoy.’ 'Chameleon' is arguably his best known work presenting a story of a black manager in a white run company verbally sparring with his black secretary, the manager following a pattern of obedience to the corporate line, the secretary more militant and their arguments highlighting issues of black identity in the UK in the 1980s. Discussing Ellis' work of the period Bruce Alvin King noted; 'his plays and their places of publication participate in the black consciousness of the time.' Ellis' work continues to form part of courses on drama and post-colonial writing in UK universities.

John Ellis (naturalist)

John Ellis FRS (c1710 - 15 October 1776) was a British linen merchant and naturalist.

Ellis specialised in the study of corals. He was elected a member of the Royal Society in 1754 and in the following year published An essay towards the Natural History of the Corallines. He was awarded the Copley Medal in 1767. His A Natural History of Many Uncommon and Curious Zoophytes, written with Daniel Solander, was published posthumously in 1776.

Ellis was appointed Royal Agent for West Florida in 1764 and for Dominica in 1770. He imported many seeds and plants into England from America, and corresponded with many botanists, including Carolus Linnaeus. His essay Directions for bringing over seeds and plants, from the East Indies.. (1770) included the first illustration of the Venus Flytrap.

References

External links

Ellis, John (1773) Directions for bringing over seeds and plants, from the East-Indies and other distant countries - digital facsimile from Linda Hall Library