Naomi Mary Margaret Mitchison, CBE was a Scottish novelist and poet. Often referred to as the doyenne of Scottish literature, she wrote over 90 books covering a wide range of genre including historical, science fiction, travelogue and autobiography. With her husband Gilbert Richard Mitchison becoming a life peer in 1964, she was also entitled to call herself Lady Mitchison, but never used the title herself. She was appointed CBE in 1981. Following her father John Scott Haldane and elder brother J. B. S. Haldane, Naomi Mitchison initially pursued a scientific career. From 1908 she and her brother started investigating Mendelian genetics. Their publication in 1915 became the first demonstration of genetic linkage in mammals. But while a diploma student at Society of Oxford Home Students, the First World War broke out that changed her interest to nursing. Her finest novel The Corn King and the Spring Queen is regarded by some as the best historical novel of the 20th century. Naomi Mitchison was a vocal feminist, particularly campaigning for birth control. We Have Been Warned is regarded as her most controversial work due to explicit sexuality. 

November 1st, 1897 in Edinburgh  /  Died:   Jan 11th, 1999