Michael Swann

Michael Meredith Swann, Baron Swann, FRS^[1] (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.^[2]

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.^[3] He was created a life peer in 1981 as Baron Swann, of Coln St Denys in the County of Gloucestershire on 16 February 1981.^[4] In 1980 Swann became Provost of Oriel College,^[5] and was also Chancellor of the University of York from 1979 until his death.^[6]

A portrait of Michael Meredith Swann, 1977 by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz can be found in the National Portrait Gallery.^[7]

Family

Brother-in-law of Monsignor Graham Leonard

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

References

1. ^ Mitchison, J. M. (1991). "Michael Meredith Swann Baron Swann of Coln Denys. March 1920-22 September 1990". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 37: 446–426. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1991.0023.  edit
2. ^ Lady Tess Swann: Obituary, The Independent, 13 October 2009
3. ^ BBC Chairmen listing The BBC
4. ^ Heraldic Media Ltd., Patrick Cracoft-Brennan (Cracroft Peerage Database v5.2) [1]
5. ^ Who, Where and When: The History & Constitution of the University of Glasgow Oxford [2]
6. ^ Greg Dyke to be Chancellor of the University of York. Notes to Editors section. [3]
7. ^ National Portrait Gallery Michael Meredith Swann, Baron Swann

External links

• Entry on "BBC Key Facts"
• Another article on the BBC
• Michael Swann Building, University of Edinburgh

Media offices
Preceded by Lord Hill	Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors 1973–1980	Succeeded by George Howard
Academic offices
Preceded by Edward Victor Appleton	Principals of the University of Edinburgh 1965–1974	Succeeded by Hugh Robson (educator)
Preceded by Kenneth Clark	Chancellors of University of York 1979–1990	Succeeded by Dame Janet Baker

Persondata
Name	Swann, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1920
Place of birth
Date of death	22 September 1990
Place of death