# Donald Michie

> British artificial intelligence researcher (1923–2007)

**Wikidata**: [Q93119](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93119)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Michie)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/donald-michie

## Summary
Donald Michie (1923–2007) was a British computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher known for his work in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He was affiliated with the University of Edinburgh for much of his career and was recognized internationally, including receiving the IJCAI Award for Research Excellence (2001).

## Biography
- Born: 1923-11-11 (Yangon; qualifier in sources: British Raj / British rule in Myanmar)
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Education: Rugby School; Balliol College; University of Oxford
- Known for: Research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and informatics
- Employer(s): University of Edinburgh (1958–1984)
- Field(s): Informatics; artificial intelligence

## Contributions
Donald Michie was a British artificial intelligence researcher and computer scientist whose work centered on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and informatics. He held an academic affiliation with the University of Edinburgh from 1958 to 1984, where he worked as a university teacher and researcher. His research profile is reflected in his supervision of doctoral students who became notable AI researchers, including David H. D. Warren, Stephen Muggleton, and Austin Tate.  

Michie’s standing in the AI community is evidenced by major professional recognition: he was named an AAAI Fellow (1990) and received the IJCAI Award for Research Excellence (2001). He was also associated with prominent learned societies, including the Royal Society of Edinburgh (as a fellow/member) and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts.  

The provided sources do not specify particular paper titles, software systems, or named algorithms attributable to Michie, so his contributions are best summarized here through his documented fields of work, institutional role at Edinburgh, doctoral mentorship, and major awards in AI.

## FAQs
### Q: Who was Donald Michie?
A: Donald Michie was a British computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher (born 1923-11-11; died 2007-07-07). He worked in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and informatics and was affiliated with the University of Edinburgh (1958–1984).

### Q: What is Donald Michie known for?
A: He is known for research in artificial intelligence and machine learning and for his role as a university teacher and mentor to doctoral students in AI. He received major recognition including AAAI Fellow (1990) and the IJCAI Award for Research Excellence (2001).

### Q: Where did Donald Michie work?
A: He worked at the University of Edinburgh from 1958 to 1984. The sources describe him as a computer scientist, artificial intelligence researcher, and university teacher.

### Q: Who were Donald Michie’s doctoral students?
A: The sources list David H. D. Warren, Stephen Muggleton, and Austin Tate as his doctoral students. These individuals are associated with artificial intelligence and computer science.

### Q: How did Donald Michie die?
A: The sources state that his death was an accidental death caused by a car collision. He died on 2007-07-07.

## Why They Matter
Donald Michie matters in the history of British and international artificial intelligence because he is documented as a long-term academic contributor to AI and informatics and as a mentor to later AI researchers. His affiliation with the University of Edinburgh (1958–1984) places him within a major UK center for AI research and teaching during a formative period for the field.  

His influence is also reflected through doctoral supervision: the sources name David H. D. Warren, Stephen Muggleton, and Austin Tate as his doctoral students, indicating a direct role in training researchers who contributed to AI and computer science. Recognition by leading professional bodies further signals impact: he was elected an AAAI Fellow (1990) and received the IJCAI Award for Research Excellence (2001), an international distinction in AI.  

Beyond awards, his memberships in learned academies (including the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts) indicate broad peer recognition. Even where specific publications or systems are not listed in the provided sources, these documented roles and honors show that Michie helped shape AI through research leadership, teaching, and the development of future experts.

## Notable For
- IJCAI Award for Research Excellence (2001)
- AAAI Fellow (1990)
- University of Edinburgh affiliation (1958–1984)
- Doctoral supervision of David H. D. Warren, Stephen Muggleton, and Austin Tate
- Membership in learned societies including the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts

## Body
### Identity and Roles
- Name: Donald Michie
- Occupations (as listed in sources):
  - Computer scientist
  - Artificial intelligence researcher
  - University teacher
  - Cryptanalyst
  - Information scientist
- Primary fields of work (as listed in sources):
  - Artificial intelligence
  - Informatics
  - (Related topic in sources: machine learning)

### Dates and Places
- Birth:
  - Date: 1923-11-11
  - Place: Yangon (with qualifiers in sources indicating British Raj / British rule in Myanmar)
- Death:
  - Date: 2007-07-07
  - Place: North Weald Bassett
  - Cause/manner: car collision; accidental death

### Citizenship and Language
- Citizenship:
  - United Kingdom (start time given: 1927-04-12)
  - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (ended 1927-04-12; qualifier references Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927)
- Language:
  - English (languages spoken/written/signed)

### Education
- Educated at:
  - Rugby School
  - Balliol College
  - University of Oxford

### Academic and Institutional Affiliation
- Employer:
  - University of Edinburgh (1958–1984)

### Students and Academic Lineage
- Doctoral students listed in sources:
  - David H. D. Warren
  - Stephen Muggleton
  - Austin Tate

### Honors, Awards, and Memberships
- Awards received:
  - IJCAI Award for Research Excellence (point in time: 2001)
  - AAAI Fellow (point in time: 1990)
  - Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
  - Fellow of the British Computer Society
- Member of:
  - Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
  - American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  - Royal Society of Edinburgh

### Family (as listed in sources)
- Father: James Kilgour Michie
- Mother: Marjorie Crain Pfeiffer
- Spouses (with qualifiers in sources):
  - Zena Davies (married 1942; divorced 1949)
  - Anne McLaren (married 1952-10-06; divorced 1959)
  - Jean Hayes (married 1971; ended 2002 due to spouse’s death)
- Children:
  - Chris Michie
  - Susan Michie
  - Jonathan Michie
  - Caroline Ruth Michie

### Identifiers and Reference Links
- ISNI: 0000000109487183
- VIAF: 2639963
- GND: 110950569
- Library of Congress authority ID: n80041434
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ID: 98955
- Wikipedia title: Donald Michie
- Commons category: Donald Michie
- Image (source link): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Donald_Michie_1986.jpg

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## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. The Peerage
3. Donald Michie
4. BnF authorities
5. Mathematics Genealogy Project
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. Donald Michie, 83, Theorist of Artificial Intelligence, Dies
8. [Source](https://aaai.org/about-aaai/aaai-awards/the-aaai-fellows-program/elected-aaai-fellows/)
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. CiNii Research
11. Virtual International Authority File
12. Academic pair killed in car crash
13. SNAC
14. [Donald Michie | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1134858A/Donald_Michie)
15. [Source](http://catalogo.pusc.it/cgi-bin/koha/opac-authoritiesdetail.pl?authid=53455)
16. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13576702z)
17. CONOR.SI
18. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File