Michael Swann
Encyclopedia
Michael Meredith Swann, Baron Swann, FRS
(1920 – 22 September 1990) was a distinguished molecular
and cell biologist working 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 also collaborated with Victor Rothschild in experiments on changes in membrane structure during fertilisation. The Michael Swann Building at the University of Edinburgh
is named after him, where work on cell division and fertilisation continues to this day.
From 1965 to 1974, he was the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University where he encountered difficulty with students led by Gordon Brown
who had unusually been elected as Rector of the University.
He was chairman of the BBC
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
in 1981 as Baron Swann, of Coln St 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.
A portrait of Michael Meredith Swann, 1977 by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz can be found in the National Portrait Gallery.
Brother of Hugh Swann
, cabinet maker to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Nephew to Brigadier Vivian Dykes
Chief Combined Secretary British Joint Staff Mission Washington 1942
Stepson to Sir Sydney Castle Roberts
Secretary of Cambridge University Press, author and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(1920 – 22 September 1990) was a distinguished molecular
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
and cell biologist working on the mechanisms of cell division
Cell division
Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells . Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle. This type of cell division in eukaryotes is known as mitosis, and leaves the daughter cell capable of dividing again. The corresponding sort...
and fertilisation
Fertilisation
Fertilisation is the fusion of gametes to produce a new organism. In animals, the process involves the fusion of an ovum with a sperm, which eventually leads to the development of an embryo...
. He used cell polarisation methods to understand the changes in molecular organisation of the mitotic spindle
Mitotic spindle
In cell biology, the spindle fibers are the structure that separates the chromosomes into the daughter cells during cell division. It is part of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells...
. With his collaborator Murdoch Mitchison
Murdoch Mitchison
John Murdoch Mitchison FRS, FRSE was a British zoologist, the son of the Labour politician Dick Mitchison and his wife, the writer Naomi . The biologist J.B.S. Haldane was his uncle, and the physiologist John Scott Haldane was his maternal grandfather...
, he found evidence in support of a new theory of cell division. He also collaborated with Victor Rothschild in experiments on changes in membrane structure during fertilisation. The Michael Swann Building at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
is named after him, where work on cell division and fertilisation continues to this day.
From 1965 to 1974, he was the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University where he encountered difficulty with students led by Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
who had unusually been elected as Rector of the University.
He was chairman of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
from 1973 to 1980 having been appointed by Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, who admired his strong leadership during student protests at Edinburgh University. He was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1981 as Baron Swann, of Coln St Denys in the County of Gloucestershire on 16 February 1981. In 1980 Swann became Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Oriel College, and was also Chancellor of the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
from 1979 until his death.
A portrait of Michael Meredith Swann, 1977 by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz can be found in the National Portrait Gallery.
Family
Brother-in-law of Monsignor Graham LeonardGraham Leonard
Graham Douglas Leonard KCVO was a British priest. His principal ministry was as a bishop of the Church of England but, after his retirement as the Bishop of London, he became a Roman Catholic, becoming the most senior Anglican cleric to do so since the English Reformation...
Brother of Hugh Swann
Hugh Swann
Hugh Sinclair Swann , otherwise known as Tim Swann, became the cabinet maker to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. His work was inspired by his admiration for Barnsley, Gimson and Russell...
, cabinet maker to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
Nephew to Brigadier Vivian Dykes
Vivian Dykes
Brigadier Vivian Dykes , was the Director of Plans, War Office between 1939 and 1941 and became the first Chief Combined Secretary British Joint Staff Mission Washington in 1942. He was described as being 'at the heart of allied military policy making'...
Chief Combined Secretary British Joint Staff Mission Washington 1942
Stepson to Sir Sydney Castle Roberts
Sydney Castle Roberts
Sir Sydney Castle Roberts was a well-known and popular figure around Cambridge throughout his life, and was recognised as a publisher of skill and distinction....
Secretary of Cambridge University Press, author and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge