Biography

Sheila Macbeth Mitchell was born on June 12, 1890 in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, UK. She was married to John Mitchell. She died on February 15, 1994 in Batheaston, Somerset, England, UK.

Alongside her husband, John Mitchell, she was one of Scotland's best known family historians.

During the First World War, she served as a nurse aboard the British hospital ship HMHS Britannic, sister ship of the famous liner RMS Titanic. She survived the sinking of the ship after it struck a mine near the Greek island of Kea on 21 November 1916. Six decades later, at the age of 86, she was contacted by oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau who was exploring the wreck of the Britannic. She was able to visit the wreck in Cousteau's submersible.