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University of Edinburgh. Principal

 Organization

Staff Only

History

The Principal and Vice-Chancellor is the most senior member of University staff. From the establishment of the role in 1585, until 1620 the role of Principal was combimed with that of Rector. The 'Vice-Chancellor' element of the title emerged from the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858.

The incumbent is President of the Senatus Academicus and ex-officio, a member of the University Court. They are nominated by the Curators of Patronage and appointed by the University Court. As Vice-Chancellor they confer degrees on behalf of the Chancellor.

Principals of the University of Edinburgh

1586 - Robert Rollock (1555-1599) (previously Regent)
1599 - Henry Charteris (c1565–1628)
1620 - Patrick Sands (c1567-1635)
1622 - Robert Boyd (1578-1627)
1623 - John Adamson (1576–1651?)
1652 - William Colville (d. 1675) (did not take up office)
1653 - Robert Leighton (c1611-1684)
1662 - William Colville (d. 1675)
1675 - Andrew Cant (c1626-1685)
1685 - Alexander Monro (c1648-1698)
1690 - Gilbert Rule (c1629-1701)
1703 - William Carstares (1649-1715)
1716 - William Wishart "primus" (1660-1729)
1730 - William Hamilton (1669-1732)
1732 - James Smith (1680-1736)
1736 - William Wishart "secundus" (c1692-1753)
1754 - John Gowdie (c1682-1762)
1762 - William Robertson (1721-1793)
1793 - George Husband Baird (1761-1840)
1840 - John Lee (1779-1859)
1859 - Sir David Brewster (1781-1868)
1868 - Sir Alexander Grant (1826-1884)
1885 - Sir William Muir (1819-1905)
1903 - Sir William Turner (1832-1916)
1916 - Sir Alfred James Ewing (1855-1935)
1929 - Sir Thomas Henry Holland (1868-1947)
1944 - Sir John Fraser (1885-1947)
1948 - Sir Edward Victor Appleton (1892-1965)
1965 - Sir Michael Meredith Swann (1920-1990)
1974 - Sir Hugh Norwood Robson (1917-1977)
1979 - Sir John Harrison Burnett (1922-2007)
1987 - Sir David Cecil Smith (1930- )
1994 - Sir Stewart Ross Sutherland (1934- )
2002 - Sir Timothy Michael Martin O'Shea (1949- )
2018 - Sir Peter William Mathieson (1959- )

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

Principals of the University: Sir Sydney Smith (Acting Principal), 1948-1949

 File — Box Secretary's box file: Misc 156
Identifier: EUA IN1/ADS/SEC/A/7/187
Scope and Contents

Principals of the University: Sir Sydney Smith (Acting Principal)

Dates: 1948-1949
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Records of the University of Edinburgh / Administration and Support Services / University Secretary / File Series 'A' / Miscellaneous

Senatus Academicus, 1733-2002

 Sub-subfonds
Identifier: EUA IN1/GOV/SEN
Scope and Contents

Minutes, correspondence and other papers relating to the Senatus Academicus and its predecessor College committee.

Dates: 1733-2002
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Records of the University of Edinburgh / University Governance and legal basis of the university

University Court, 1644-date

 Sub-subfonds
Identifier: EUA IN1/GOV/CRT
Scope and Contents papers relating to the legal basis of the University: Ordinances, Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments etc. (2 volumes) 1583-1809 minutes (draft and final), agenda papers and billets, 1859-present letterbooks (31 volumes) c1872-1919 papers relating to specific legal cases, disciplinary matters etc. University Grants Committee / Funding...
Dates: 1644-date
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Records of the University of Edinburgh / University Governance and legal basis of the university

University Governance and legal basis of the university

 Sub-Fonds
Identifier: EUA IN1/GOV
Scope and Contents
  1. Chancellor
  2. Rector
  3. University Court
  4. Senatus Academicus
  5. General Council
  6. Curators of Patronage
Dates: 1582-date
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Records of the University of Edinburgh