Rector of the University of Aberdeen

Last updated November 22, 2024

The Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and chairperson in the University Court of the University of Aberdeen. The position is rarely known by its full title and most often referred to simply as "Rector". The rector is elected by students of the university and serves a three-year term. Although the position has existed since 1495, it was only officially made the students' representative in 1860.^[1]

The position exists in common throughout the ancient universities of Scotland with rectorships also in existence at the universities of St Andrews, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The newer University of Dundee has a rector due to its historical ties to St Andrews. The position is given legal standing by virtue of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 and is the third office of precedence in the university (following the chancellor and vice chancellor / principal). Rectors also appoint a rector's assessor, who may carry out their functions when they are absent from the university.

The 1996 election was historically unusual in that one of the two candidates (who lost by approximately 100 votes) had recently completed studies at the university, highlighting the fact that there is no rule preventing a member of the student body from standing for the post and that the trend for celebrity candidates might distance the office from the issues of student life.

In 2011 a current student at the University became the first student to run in the Rector elections

^[2] This situation recurred in 2018, when then-Rector, Maggie Chapman,^[3] won re-election against a challenger who was, at that time, studying law at the university.^[4]

Rector's assessor

Each rector appoints a rector's assessor to the University Court. He or she maintains a permanent seat in the University Court during the period of their duty. The rector's assessor furthermore acts, with the support of the president of the Students' Association, as the rector's representative when the rector cannot be present, additionally they sit on the Joint Planning, Finance & Estates Committee and Student Affairs Committee in an official permanent capacity. Further roles and responsibilities include being a 'focal point' for the student body to interact with the decision making levels of university governance, and coordinating the on-campus and online presence for the Rector.

In the 2007–08 academic year, James Michael Wilson (a then first-year student at the university) was rector's assessor for Robin Harper.^[5] Mr Wilson was the youngest rector's assessor ever to be appointed to the position at the University of Aberdeen or any of its predecessor colleges.

2011 election

Following complaints about the campaign, the first election of mid-2011 was deemed null and void, and it was decided that nominations would re-open in October. There were 6 candidates running this time, and on 10/11/11 it was announced that Dr Maitland Mackie would be taking over the position, having received the most votes.

2014 election

Following Maitland Mackie's death in office, an election was held in November. There were two candidates, with Maggie Chapman winning with 67% of the vote. Chapman is a socialist, a feminist, and co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party. She pledged to focus on housing issues, defending free tuition, better services for students, to create a "strong academic community" and ensure the university has a "positive impact on society".^[3]^[6]

List of rectors

Rector of King's College, Aberdeen

1637–? : Arthur Johnston ^[7]
1639–1644 : William Guild ^[8]
1651–? : Andrew Cant ^[9]
1677–1682 : John Menzies ^[10]
1805–1814 : The 1st Baron Glenbervie ^[11]
1827-1837 : The 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott ^[12]
1838–1857 : Lord Francis Egerton,^[13]^[14]^[15] M.P.
1857–? : John Inglis (who became Lord Glencorse in 1858)^[16]

Rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen

1664–? : The Most Rev. Dr Arthur Rose^[17]
1673–? : George Meldrum^[18]
1675–1678 : No record^[19]
1679– : Patrick Sibbald ^[19]
1687–1688 : No record^[19]
1688–1691 : Dr William Blair ^[19]
1691–1713 : No record^[19]
1714–1715 : John Urquhart, Laird of Meldrum ^[19]
1715–1719 : No record^[19]
1720–1723 : Sir William Forbes ^[19]
1723–1726 : Thomas Forbes ^[19]
1726–1729 : Patrick Duff ^[19]
1729– : William Duff of Braco ^[19]
1730–1731 : No record
1732– : Sir Alexander Ramsay of Balmain ^[19]
1733–1736 : No record
1737– : George Skene ^[19]
1746–1760 : No record
1761–1764 : Sir Arthur Forbes, 4th Baronet, of Craigievar^[19]
1764–1770 : John Gray ^[20]
1770– : Alexander Fordyce ^[21]
1772–1781 : No record
1782–1788 : Cosmo Gordon of Cluny ^[19]
1788–1790 : Francis Garden of Gardenstown ^[19]
1790–1792 : Sir William Fordyce ^[19]^[22]
1792 - 1794: Sir William Forbes, Bt, of Pitsligo ^[23]
1794–1796 : James Ferguson, M.P.^[24]
1796–1798 : Alexander Allardyce of Dunnotar, M.P.^[19]
1798–1800 : Sir Alexander Ramsay-Irvine of Balmain, 6th Baronet ^[19]
1800–1802 : Sir William Forbes, 5th Baronet of Craigievar ^[19]
1802–1809 : Alexander Baxter of Glassel ^[19]
1809–1814 : Sir William Grant, M.P., Master of the Rolls ^[25]
1814–1819 : Charles Forbes of Auchmedden, M.P.^[19]
1820–1822 : The 4th Earl Fife ^[19]
1822–1823 : Charles Forbes of Auchmedden, M.P.^[19]
1823–1824 : The 4th Earl Fife ^[19]
1824–1826 : Joseph Hume, M.P. ^[26]
1826–1828 : Sir James McGrigor ^[27]
1828–1829 : Joseph Hume, M.P. ^[28]
1829–1830 : No rector
1830–1831 : Charles Forbes of Auchmedden, M.P.^[19]
1831-1832 : The 18th Earl of Erroll
1832–1833 : Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse, 8th Baronet ^[19]
1833–1834 : Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassie, Bt ^[19]
1834–1836 : Alexander Bannerman, M.P.^[19]
1836–1837 : Dr John Abercrombie ^[29]
1837–1838 : John, Lord Lyndhurst ^[19]
1838–1839 : Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux ^[19]
1839–1840 : John Campbell Colquhoun of Killermont ^[19]
1840–1841 : Sir George Sinclair of Ulbster ^[19]
1841–1842 : Sir James McGrigor, 1st Baronet,^[27]
1842–1843 : Sir John Herschel ^[19]
1843-1845 : The 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane
1845–1848 : Archibald Alison, Sheriff of Lanarkshire
1848–1849 : Lord Robertson ^[30]
1849–1851 : John Thomson Gordon ^[19]^[31]
1851–1853 : The 13th Earl of Eglinton ^[32]
1853–1854 : The 7th Earl of Carlisle ^[33]
1854–1855 : Colonel William Henry Sykes, M.P.^[34]
1855–1858 : Austen Henry Layard, M.P. ^[35]
1858-1859 : The 5th Earl Stanhope