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This following is a current list of the chancellors, vice-chancellors and visitors of universities in the United Kingdom. In most cases, the chancellor is a ceremonial head, while the vice-chancellor is chief academic officer and chief executive. Some universities have a vice-chancellor but no chancellor; e.g. the LSE has a "president and vice-chancellor", only. [1] In Scotland, the principal is the chief executive and is usually ex officio vice-chancellor, which is a purely titular position. The visitor is appointed by the founder of an eleemosynary institution to oversee the distribution of the founder's bounty; in the case of universities, this is often the sovereign, in which case the office is usually carried out by the Lord President of the Council. [2] In general, only universities incorporated as chartered or statutory corporations have visitors, i.e. most pre-1992 institutions but not post-1992 universities. Scottish universities do not have visitors, nor do the two ancient universities of England, which are civil corporations.
At Scottish universities, the chief executive is styled the principal. The ancient universities of Scotland, and the University of Dundee, have a Rector, elected by the student body.
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The vice-chancellors listed below have served in this capacity for 15 years or more at a British university, a constituent institution of a federal university, or an institution that achieved this status during their period in office. Italics indicate people currently in office as of January 2024 [update] .
47 Years: George Baird (Edinburgh 1793–1840). [246]
43 Years: Sir Henry Reichel (Bangor 1884–1927). [247]
36 Years: George Campbell (Aberdeen 1759–95).
35 Years: Duncan Macfarlan(Glasgow 1823–58), John Mackay (Dundee 1895–1930).
34 Years: Hector Boece (Aberdeen 1500–34), Thomas Hamilton (Queens Belfast 1889–1923), Sir Hector Hetherington (Liverpool 1927–36, Glasgow 1936–61).
33 Years: Neil Campbell (Glasgow 1728–61).
31 Years: Sir Emrys Evans (Bangor 1927–58), Sir James Irvine (St Andrews 1921–52), Charles Thorp (Durham 1831–62). [248]
30 Years: William Robertson (Edinburgh 1762–92), [246] Patrick Sharp (Glasgow 1585–1615).
29 Years: John Adamson (Edinburgh 1623–1652), [246] Sir James Donaldson (St Andrews 1886–1915).
28 Years: Ellen Charlotte Higgins (Royal Holloway 1907–35), Thomas Roberts (Aberystwyth 1891–1919).
27 Years: Sir Isambard Owen (Armstrong College, Newcastle 1894–1909, Bristol 1909–21), John Stirling (Glasgow 1701–28).
26 Years: Sir Charles Evans (Bangor 1958–1984), George Smith (Aberdeen 1909–35).
25 Years: John Caird (Glasgow 1873–98), William Lake (Durham 1844–69), [249] John Murray (Exeter 1926-51), Sir Albert Sloman (Essex 1962–87), John Strang (Glasgow 1626–51), Sir Aubrey Trotman-Dickenson (Cardiff 1968–93).
24 Years: Sir William Halliday (KCL 1928–52), William Leechman (Glasgow 1761–85).
23 Years: James Duff (Durham Colleges 1937–60), [249] Medwin Hughes (Trinity University College 2000–2011, Lampeter 2009–11, UWTSD 2011–23, Wales 2011–23). [250]
22 Years: Sir David Brewster (St Andrews 1837–59), Sir Thomas Holland (Imperial 1922–29, Edinburgh 1929–44), Lord Stopford (Manchester 1934–56), Dame Margaret Tuke (Bedford 1907–29), Edward Wright (Glasgow 1662–84).
21 Years: Bill Bevan (Cardiff 1966–87), Henry Charteris (Edinburgh 1599–1620), [246] Geraldine Jebb (Bedford 1930–51), Sir Edward Ross (SOAS 1916–37), Tim Wheeler (Chester 1998–2019), David Green (Worcester 2003–present), David Latchman (Birkbeck 2003–present).
20Years: Lord Butterworth (Warwick 1965–85), Sir Colin Campbell (Nottingham 1988–2008), Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders (London 1937–57), Sir Graeme Davies (Liverpool 1986–91, Glasgow 1995–2003, London 2003-10), Sir John LeFevre (London 1842–62), Sir Donald MacAlister (Glasgow 1909–29), Sir Philip Morris (Bristol 1946–66), Sir Timothy O'Shea (Birkbeck 1998–2002, Edinburgh 2002–18), Sir Cyril Philips (SOAS 1956–76), Sir Frederick Rees (Cardiff 1929–49), William Taylor (Glasgow 1803–23), John Watson (St Andrews 1966–86).
19 Years: Lord Chilver (Cranfield 1970–89), Michael Driscoll (Middlesex 1996–2015), Thomas Edmonds (Aberystwyth 1872–91), Anthony Kelly (Surrey 1975–94), John Lee (Edinburgh 1840–59), [246] Sir Oliver Lodge (Birmingham 1900–19), Sir Fraser Noble (Leicester 1962–76, Aberdeen 1976–81), Gerald Pillay (Liverpool Hope 2003–22), Sir Michael Sterling (Brunel 1990–2001, Birmingham 2001–09), Frank Thistlethwaite (East Anglia 1961–80), Sir Ralph Turner (SOAS 1937–56), Raymond Rickett (Middlesex 1972–91), George Holmes (Bolton 2005–present).
18 Years: William Beveridge (LSE 1919–37), Sir Derman Christopherson (Durham Colleges 1960–63, Durham 1961-78), [249] Archibald Davidson (Glasgow 1785–1803), Ifor Evans (Aberystwyth 1934–52), John Viriamu Jones (Cardiff 1883–1901), Sir James Mountford (Liverpool 1945–63), Sir William Muir (Edinburgh 1885–1903), [246] Sir Steve Smith (Exeter 2002–20), William Wishart (Edinburgh 1736–54), [246] John Cater (Edge Hill 2006–present)
17 Years: Sir Edward Appleton (Edinburgh 1948–65), [246] Sir Michael Arthur (Leeds 2004–13, UCL 2013–21), Edith Batho (Royal Holloway 1945–62), Baroness Blackstone (Birkbeck 1987–97, Greenwich 2004–11), Dame Glynis Breakwell (Bath 2001–18), John Brooks (Wolverhampton 1998–2005, Manchester Met 2005–15), Brian Cantor (York 2002–13, Bradford 2013–19), Sir Samuel Curran (Strathclyde 1964–81), Lord Flowers (Imperial 1973–85, London 1985–90), Sir Alexander Grant (Edinburgh 1868–85), [246] Sir Peter Gregson (Queens Belfast 2004–13, Cranfield 2013–21), Ernest Griffiths (Cardiff 1901–18), Bertrand Hallward (Nottingham 1948–65), Sir Martin Harris (Essex 1987–92, Manchester 1992–04), Frank Hartley (Cranfield 1989–2006), Hugh Nisbet (Heriot-Watt 1950–67), Sir Franklin Sibly (Reading 1929–46), Anthony Steel (Cardiff 1949–66), Geoffrey Sim (Sheffield 1974–91), Lord Sutherland (KCL 1985–90, London 1990–94, Edinburgh 1994–2002), [246] Geoffrey Templeman (Kent 1963–80).
16 Years: Charles Bosanquet (King's College, Newcastle 1952–63, Newcastle 1963–68), [249] Sir Charles Carter (Lancaster 1964–80), John Craven (Portsmouth 1997–2003), Frederick Crawford (Aston 1980-96), Sir Alfred Dale (Liverpool 1903–1919), Richard Davies (Swansea 2003–19), Sir David Eastwood (East Anglia 2002–06, Birmingham 2009–21), Sir John Kingman (Bristol 1985–2001), Sir Alan Langlands (Dundee 2000–09, Leeds 2013–20), Sir Peter Noble (KCL 1952–68), Colin Riordan (Essex 2007–12, Cardiff 2012–23), Sir Adrian Smith (QMC 1998–2008, London 2012–18), Sir Michael Thompson (East Anglia 1980–86, Birmingham 1987–96).
15 Years: Sir Robert Aitken (Birmingham 1953–68), Thomas Barley (Glasgow 1858–73), Alfred Barry (KCL 1868–83), Dame Janet Beer (Oxford Brooks 2007–15, Liverpool 2015–22), Duncan Bunch (Glasgow 1460–75), Sir Bob Burgess (Leicester 1999–2014), Dame Janet Finch (Keele 1995–2010), Sir David Harrison (Keele 1979–84, Exeter 1984–94), Richard Jeff (KCL 1843–68), Sir Irvine Masson (Sheffield 1938–53), Malcolm McVicar (UCLan 1998–13), Sir Alec Merrison (Bristol 1969–84), Frank Morgan (Bath Spa 1997–2012), Lord Morris (Leeds 1948–63), Sir Howard Newby (Southampton 1994-2001, West England 2006–08, Liverpool 2008–14), Paul O'Prey (Roehampton 2004–19), Elizabeth Reid (Bedford 1849–64), Sir Charles Robertson (Birmingham 1923–38), David VandeLinde (Bath 1992–2001, Warwick 2001–06), Sir Charles Wilson (Glasgow 1961–76),
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