Politician. Born Margaret Anne McAdam in Lanark, the daughter of a farm-worker, she was educated at Biggar High School, the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, and Jordanhill College of Education. She began her career as a teacher in Cumbernauld (1968-70), rising to become a principal teacher in Stirling (1973-74). Ewing joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1966 and was elected the Member of Parliament for East Dunbartonshire in 1974, with a slim majority, but lost the seat in 1979.
She married Donald Bain, an SNP researcher, in 1968, although this marriage ended in divorce in 1980. In 1983, she married another politician Fergus Ewing, the son of veteran Nationalist Winnie Ewing (b.1929).
She then worked as a journalist but was re-elected to her mother-in-law's former seat of Moray in 1987. Ewing was elected Deputy Leader of the SNP and, in 1990, stood for the leadership but lost to Alex Salmond (b.1954). In 1999, was elected to the new Scottish Parliament, leaving Westminster two years later. She was re-elected an MSP in 2003.
She died at her home in Lossiemouth from breast cancer and will be remembered as a popular politician who was respected across the political spectrum.