Minerva Scientifica Birthday – Doris Mackinnon
30th September 2025
Doris Mackinnon
Zoologist and Protozoologist
BORN 30th September 1883, Aberdeen, Scotland
Doris Mackinnon Zoologist (1883-1956) Image © University of Dundee Archive Services
Doris Mackinnon (1883 – 1956) became the first female Professor at King’s College, London in 1927. Her main area of expertise was in the protozoans – tiny single-celled animals which live in water or as parasites. She established a Centre for Protozoology at King’s College London, which was the first non-medical centre devoted to this discipline. She produced many scientific papers on the protozoa throughout her career. Doris had a particular interest in Beethoven, and translated the work of Paul Mies which explored the revisions and changes Beethoven made in his compositions. Her translation, Beethoven’s sketches: an analysis of his style based on a study of his sketch-books appeared in 1929, and was praised for having brought lesser-known aspects of Beethoven’s work to an English-speaking audience.
MUSIC:
(click on the blue button above to listen)
“How Life is Lived in the Animal’s World – Lavender’s Blue” is a reflection on the lives of zoologists, Doris Mackinnon and Laura Florence who lived next door to each other in Aberdeen when they were young girls, and is based on research by Catherine Booth.
It includes a full – if interrupted – performance of “The Three Cherry Trees” by Marie Dare for voice and piano, and extracts from Nairne’s “Oh! Rowan Tree!” , Burns’“To a Louse”, Beethoven’s “Für Elise” and “We Shall ne-er meet again” by Liza Honeyman. The Nursery Rhyme “Lavender’s Blue” is used as an important theme.
This substantial work was created for an event at The National Library of Scotland on January 18th 2018 where it was first performed by Margaret Cameron – Mezzo, Frances M Lynch – Soprano and children from Clovenstone Primary School, Edinburgh
(click on the blue button above to listen)
“Bats Moths and Biplanes” by Frances M Lynch for 5 singers, bat clicks, Bi-plane engines and natural sounds; words by Frances M Lynch, zoologist Doris Mackinnon (from “Animals World”) and from information gleaned from Wildlife Conservationist Debbie Samwell and Ecologist Mischa Cross; performed by electric voice theatre singers Jenny Miller, Margaret Cameron, David Sheppard, Julian Stocker, Gwion Thomas & the composer: produced by Herbie Clarke
1st performed online for Brixworth Music Festival in May 2020 and was inspired by Sywell Aerodrome Women’s Meeting of 1931 and by the wildlife close by at Pitsford Water Nature Reserve and Brixworth Country Park.
To find out more about Doris Mackinnon please go to her page on the Minerva Scientifica Website
https://minervascientifica.co.uk/doris-mackinnon/
