Naomi Mitchison 1 Edition

• Published in: Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland : Daily)
• Main Author: ISOBEL MURRAY Obituary
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Edinburgh (UK) Scotsman Publications 12.01.1999
• ISSN: 0307-5850

NAOMI MITCHISON was the writer of more than 80 books. She was also mother of a large family, politician's wife, nurse, farmer, fisher, local politician and Highland Panelist, mother of a tribe in Botswana, ambassador of humane values. She was born in Edinburgh in 1897. Her mother, Louisa Kathleen Trotter, and her father, John Scott Haldane, both came from privileged old Scottish families, the kind of people Naomi [Mitchison] believed should be in some sense taking a lead; she distrusted inherited wealth and privilege, but was remorseless about its responsibilities. Naomi was brought up in Oxford, where her father, a physiologist, early involved his children in his scientific experiments. Her only brother Jack became a professor of genetics, and Naomi retained a lifelong in terest in science, botany and genetics. She happily attended the (boys') Dragon School until the onset of menstruation caused her hasty withdrawal.