Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
Encyclopedia
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow
and President of the General Council
, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees
upon those presented to him by the Senate
, although this role is usually carried out by the Vice-Chancellor, the appointment of whom is the Chancellor's second-most important duty. The current Vice-Chancellor is the Principal
, Professor Anton Muscatelli
.
The current Chancellor is Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
.
, except in the case of Lord Blantyre, who held all the powers of the Archbishop as 'Lord of Glasgow'. This trend ceased with the appointment of the Duke of Hamilton as Chancellor in 1642, although resumed from 1661 to 1692 for a subsequent run of seven archbishops, from Andrew Fairfoul to John Paterson.
Four of the seven Chancellors in the past hundred years have been alumni of the University. The Earl of Roseberry, a former Prime Minister
, was educated at Oxford; Sir Daniel Macauley Stevenson did not attend university but was a generous benefactor of the University; and Sir Donald MacAlister, who studied at the University of Cambridge
served as Principal between 1909 and 1929. Sir William Kerr Fraser had also been Principal prior to his appointment and, other than the present Chancellor, is the only holder in the past hundred years not to have died in office.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and President of the General Council
General Council (Scottish university)
The General Council of an ancient university in Scotland is the corporate body of all graduates and senior academics of each university. They were instituted by the Universities Act 1858, but each has had its constitution and organisation considerably altered by subsequent statutes.The Act of...
, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
upon those presented to him by the Senate
Academic Senate
An Academic Senate is a governing body in some universities and colleges, and is typically the supreme academic authority for the institution.-Scotland:...
, although this role is usually carried out by the Vice-Chancellor, the appointment of whom is the Chancellor's second-most important duty. The current Vice-Chancellor is the Principal
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
, Professor Anton Muscatelli
Anton Muscatelli
Professor Vito Antonio "Anton" Muscatelli FRSA FRSE AcSS is the Principal of the University of Glasgow and one of the United Kingdom's leading economists.-Early life:...
.
The current Chancellor is Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
Kenneth Calman
Sir Kenneth Charles Calman, KCB, DL, FRSE is a Scottish cancer researcher and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He has held the position of...
.
History
From the University's establishment in 1451, the office was held by the Archbishop of GlasgowArchbishop of Glasgow
The Bishop of Glasgow, from 1492 Archbishop of Glasgow, was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Glasgow and then, as Archbishop of Glasgow, the Archdiocese of Glasgow...
, except in the case of Lord Blantyre, who held all the powers of the Archbishop as 'Lord of Glasgow'. This trend ceased with the appointment of the Duke of Hamilton as Chancellor in 1642, although resumed from 1661 to 1692 for a subsequent run of seven archbishops, from Andrew Fairfoul to John Paterson.
Four of the seven Chancellors in the past hundred years have been alumni of the University. The Earl of Roseberry, a former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, was educated at Oxford; Sir Daniel Macauley Stevenson did not attend university but was a generous benefactor of the University; and Sir Donald MacAlister, who studied at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
served as Principal between 1909 and 1929. Sir William Kerr Fraser had also been Principal prior to his appointment and, other than the present Chancellor, is the only holder in the past hundred years not to have died in office.
List of Chancellors
- William Turnbull (1451)
- Andrew de DurisdereAndrew de DurisdereAndrew de Durisdeer [Durisdere] or Andrew Muirhead was a 15th century bishop of Glasgow. "Muirhead" is not used in any contemporary sources, and may be inaccurate. However, his geographical appellation indicates that he came from Durisdeer in Galloway...
(1456) - John LaingJohn Laing (bishop)John Laing was a 15th century bishop of Glasgow. He was from the family of "Redhouse" in the shire of Edinburgh. Before becoming bishop he was rector of Tannadice in Angus, vicar of Linlithgow, and was rector of Newlands in the diocese of Glasgow when he was provided to the see in 1474. He was...
(1474) - Robert BlackadderRobert BlackadderRobert Blackadder was a medieval Scottish cleric, diplomat and politician, who was abbot of Melrose, bishop-elect of Aberdeen and bishop of Glasgow; when the last was elevated to archiepiscopal status in 1492, he became the first ever archbishop of Glasgow...
(1483) - James BeatonJames BeatonDr. James Beaton was a Scottish church leader, the uncle of Dr. David Cardinal Beaton and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland....
(1508) - Gavin DunbarGavin Dunbar (archbishop)Gavin Dunbar was a 16th century archbishop of Glasgow. He was the third son of John Dunbar of Mochrum and Janet Stewart.Gavin Dunbar, his uncle, resigned as Dean of Moray on 5 November 1518 to take up the post of bishop of Aberdeen but managed to secure his former position for his nephew...
(1524) - James Beaton II (1551–1560)
- John PorterfieldJohn PorterfieldJohn Porterfield was a Scottish prelate in the sixteenth-century. A mysterious figure, he emerges in 1571 as the successor to James Beaton II as Archbishop of Glasgow. He was described by Robert Keith as "a kind of titular bishop", propped up by the establishment for nominal purposes during a...
(1571) - James Boyd (1572)
- Robert Montgomery (1581)
- William Erskine (1585)
- Walter Stewart, 1st Lord BlantyreWalter Stewart, 1st Lord BlantyreWalter Stewart, 1st Lord Blantyre was a Scottish nobleman.The son of Sir John Stewart of Minto and Margaret Stewart of Cardonald...
(1587) - John SpottiswoodeJohn SpottiswoodeJohn Spottiswoode was an Archbishop of St Andrews, Primate of All Scotland and historian of Scotland.-Life:...
(1603) - James LawJames LawJames Law was Archbishop of Glasgow. Entering the church after graduation from university, he rose to the position of Bishop of Orkney, reorganising the diocese, before rising to hold the position of Archbishop of Glasgow....
(1615) - Patrick LindsayPatrick Lindsay (archbishop)Patrick Lindsay , bishop of Ross, archbishop of Glasgow, son of John Lindsay, and a cadet of the house of Lindsays of Edzell, Angus, was born in 1566, and studied at St Leonard's College, St Andrews, where he was laureated in 1587.-Early career:...
(1633) - James Hamilton, 3rd Marquess of HamiltonJames Hamilton, 1st Duke of HamiltonGeneral Sir James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton KG was a Scottish nobleman and influential Civil war military leader.-Young Arran:...
(1642) - John ThurloeJohn ThurloeJohn Thurloe was a secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell.-Life:...
(1658) - William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn (1660)
- Andrew FairfoulAndrew FairfoulAndrew Fairfoul was the first post-Restoration Archbishop of Glasgow, from 1661 until his death in November 1663. He became Chancellor of Glasgow University after his consecration as Archbishop....
(1661) - Alexander BurnetAlexander BurnetAlexander Burnet was a 17th century Scottish prelate. Born in the summer of 1615 to James Burnet and Christian née Dundas, he gained an MA from the University of Edinburgh in 1633. He chose to follow the career of his father, who had been minister of Lauder, by becoming a churchman himself...
(1664) - Robert LeightonRobert Leighton (prelate)Robert Leighton was a Scottish prelate and scholar, best known as a church minister, Bishop of Dunblane, Archbishop of Glasgow, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1653 to 1662. He was "noted for his Christian piety, his humility and gentleness, and his devotion to his...
(1672)
- Alexander BurnetAlexander BurnetAlexander Burnet was a 17th century Scottish prelate. Born in the summer of 1615 to James Burnet and Christian née Dundas, he gained an MA from the University of Edinburgh in 1633. He chose to follow the career of his father, who had been minister of Lauder, by becoming a churchman himself...
(1674) - Arthur RossArthur RoseArthur Rose was a seventeenth century Scottish priest, Archbishop of St Andrews, and Episcopal Primate of Scotland.-Life:The younger son of Elizabeth Wood and her husband, John Rose, minister of Birse, he was born in 1634...
(1679) - Alexander CairncrossAlexander Cairncross (archbishop)-Life:Alexander Cairncross was descended from the ancient family of Cairncross of Cowmull. For some time he followed the trade of a dyer in the Canongate of Edinburgh...
(1684) - John PatersonJohn Paterson (archbishop)John Paterson , the last archbishop of Glasgow, was the youngest son of John Paterson, bishop of Ross. John, after some preliminary studies at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen, was admitted as a student of theology at the University of St Andrews on 13 March 1655, and he is entered as...
(1687) - John Carmichael, 1st Earl of HyndfordJohn Carmichael, 1st Earl of HyndfordJohn Carmichael, 1st Earl of Carmichael , known as Lord Carmichael between 1672 and 1701, was a Scottish nobleman and politician....
(1692) - James Graham, 1st Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Duke and 4th Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish aristocratic statesman in the early eighteenth century....
(1714) - William Graham, 2nd Duke of MontroseWilliam Graham, 2nd Duke of MontroseWilliam Graham, 2nd Duke of Montrose was the son of James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose and his wife, Christian Carnegie. He married Lucy Manners, daughter of John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland on 28 October 1742. He died at age 78 at Twickenham, London, England....
(1743) - James Graham, 3rd Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 3rd Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose KG, KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.-Background:...
(1781) - James Graham, 4th Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 4th Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1836, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
(1837) - Sir William Stirling-Maxwell of PollockWilliam Stirling-MaxwellSir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet, of Pollok , was a Scottish historical writer and art historian, politician and virtuoso.-Early life:...
(1875) - Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of BuccleuchWalter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of BuccleuchWalter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, 7th Duke of Queensberry KG, PC , styled Earl of Dalkeith between 1812 and 1819, was a British politician and nobleman.-Background and education:...
(1878) - John Hamilton Dalrymple, 10th Earl of StairJohn Hamilton Dalrymple, 10th Earl of StairSir John Hamilton Dalrymple, 10th Earl of Stair KT was a Scottish peer and politician, styled as Viscount Dalrymple from 1853 until 1864, who served as Governor of the Bank of Scotland for thirty-three years....
(1884) - William Thomson, 1st Baron KelvinWilliam Thomson, 1st Baron KelvinWilliam Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin OM, GCVO, PC, PRS, PRSE, was a mathematical physicist and engineer. At the University of Glasgow he did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging...
(1904) * - Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of RoseberyArchibald Primrose, 5th Earl of RoseberyArchibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
(1908) - Sir Donald MacAlister, 1st BaronetDonald MacAlisterSir Donald MacAlister, 1st Baronet KCB was a physician, and Principal and Vice-Chancellor and, later, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow.- Early life :...
(1929) - Sir Daniel Macaulay Stevenson (1934–1944)
- Sir John Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-OrrJohn Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-OrrJohn Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr CH, DSO, MC, FRS , known as Sir John Boyd Orr from 1935 to 1949, was a Scottish teacher, doctor, biologist and politician who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his scientific research into nutrition and his work as the first Director-General of the United Nations...
(1946) * - Sir Alexander Kirkland Cairncross(1972) *
- Sir William Kerr FraserWilliam Kerr FraserSir William Kerr Fraser GCB is a retired British civil servant, who served as Permanent Secretary at the Scottish Office, and as Principal and later Chancellor of the University of Glasgow.-Early life:...
(1996) * - Professor Sir Kenneth CalmanKenneth CalmanSir Kenneth Charles Calman, KCB, DL, FRSE is a Scottish cancer researcher and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He has held the position of...
(2006) *
* denotes alumnus
See also
- Ancient university governance in ScotlandAncient university governance in ScotlandThe ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the organisational system imposed by the Universities Acts, a series of Acts of Parliament enacted between 1858 and 1966. The Acts applied to what were termed the 'older universities': the University of St Andrews, the University of...
- Principal of the University of GlasgowPrincipal of the University of GlasgowThe Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
- Rector of the University of Glasgow