Background
Swann, Michael Meredith was born on March 1, 1920 in Shortlands, Kent, England. Son of Meredith Blake Robson and Marjorie (Dykes) Swann.
biologist governor university professor Zoologist
Swann, Michael Meredith was born on March 1, 1920 in Shortlands, Kent, England. Son of Meredith Blake Robson and Marjorie (Dykes) Swann.
Master of Arts, Cambridge University, England, 1940. Doctor of Philosophy, Cambridge University, 1949. Doctor of Laws, Aberdeen University, 1967.
Doctor of Science, Leicester University, 1968. Degree, York University, 1968. Degree, University Edinburgh, 1983.
Doctor of Letters, Heriot Watt University, 1971.
He was appointed chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation, awarded a knighthood and subsequently a life peerage. Swann lectured in zoology at the University of Cambridge, his former Alma Mater. He served with the British Army during World World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1942, he marriead Tess Gleadowe (died 2009).
His academic work was on the mechanisms of cell division and fertilisation. He used cell polarisation methods to understand the changes in molecular organisation of the mitotic spindle.
With his collaborator Murdoch Mitchison, he found evidence in support of a new theory of cell division. He collaborated with Victor Rothschild in experiments on changes in membrane structure during fertilisation.
He was appointed professor of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh in 1952 and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1962.
From 1965 to 1974, he was the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University. In 1968, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Leicester. During his term as Principal, he encountered difficulty with students led by Gordon Brown who had unusually been elected as Rector of the University.
He received a knighthood in the 1972 Birthday Honours, having the honour conferred by the Queen herself on 5 December 1972.
He was chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation from 1973 to 1980 having been appointed by Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath, who admired his strong leadership during student protests at Edinburgh University. He was created a life peer as Baron Swann, of Coln Street Denys in the County of Gloucestershire on 16 February 1981.
In 1980 Swann became Provost of Oriel College, and was also Chancellor of the University of York from 1979 until his death. The Michael Swann Building at the University of Edinburgh is named after him.
lieutenant continues to be used for work on cell division and fertilisation to this day.
Brother, Hugh Swann, cabinet maker to the Queen
Uncle, Brigadier Vivian Dykes, Chief Combined Secretary British Joint Staff Mission Washington, 1942
Stepfather, Sir Sydney Castle Roberts, Secretary of Cambridge University Press, author Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
Fellow: Institute Biology. Member: Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) (honorary), NEW (Edinburgh), Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh (honorary), Royal Society (London and Edinburgh), Athenaeum (London).
Married Teresa Ann Gleadowe, August 7, 1942. Children: Richard Meredith, Sylvia Swann Garnett, Catriona Swann Watson, Peter.