Michael Swann

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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.

He was chairman of the BBC from 1973 to 1980^[1] , and was created a life peer in 1981 as Baron Swann, of Coln St Denys in the County of Gloucestershire [U.K. Life Peer] on 16 February 1981.^[2]

From 1973 to 1980, he was the Principal of Edinburgh University. The Michael Swann Building at the University of Edinburgh is named after him, where similar work on cell division and fertilisation continues to this day.

[edit] Family

Brother-in-law of Monsignor Graham Leonard

Brother of Hugh Swann, cabinet maker to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

[edit] External links

Entry on "History of the BBC" Flash presentation with no direct link: Select 1970s chairman, Sir Michael Swann
Another article on the BBC
Michael Schwann Building, University of Edinburgh

[edit] References

^ British Broadcasting Corporation, Chairmen of the BBC [1]
^ Heraldic Media Ltd., Patrick Cracoft-Brennan (Cracroft Peerage Database v5.2) [2]

Preceded by Lord Hill	Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors 1973–1980	Succeeded by George Howard
Preceded by Edward Victor Appleton	Principals of Edinburgh University 1965–1974	Succeeded by Hugh Robson (educator)