Rectors Past and Present
Glasgow is one of only five Scottish Universities that has a rector. The others being Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and St. Andrews. The first Glasgow rector was elected in the 17th Century and since then over 100 rector elections have been held.
The Glasgow University Rector is one of the senior roles within the institution. They serve as a representative for the student body in meetings with university management and are elected by the student body every three years.
The first rector was Robert Ramsay (1648-1650) and the most recent election (March 2024) saw alumnus, Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah elected.
Past Rectors individuals who had already achieved or would go on to achieve great things. Our past rectors include:
- 11 British Prime Ministers
- 1 French Prime Minister
- 2 Nobel Laureates
Prime Ministers
Eleven Glasgow University Rectors have also served as UK Prime Minister.
| Prime Minister | Glasgow Rector between |
|---|---|
| Lord Edward Stanley | 1834-36 |
| Sir Robert Peel | 1836-38 |
| Lord John Russel | 1846-47 |
| Henry Palmerston | 1862-65 |
| Benjamin Disraeli | 1871-77 |
| William E. Gladstone | 1877-80 |
| Arthur Balfour | 1890-93 |
| Archibald Primrose, Earl of Rosebery | 1899-1902 |
| Herbert Asquith | 1905-08 |
| Bonar Law | 1919-22 |
| Stanley Baldwin | 1928-31 |
Also one French Prime Minister:
Raymond Poincaré
Poincaré was rector between 1914 and 1919. He Served as President of France from 1913-1920 and served three terms as Prime Minister of France.
Nobel Prize winners
Albert Lathuli
Albert Lathuli was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the President-General of the African National Congress from 1952 until his death in 1967.
On 22 October 1962, students at UofG elected Luthuli as Rector in recognition of his "dignity and restraint". The rectorship position was honorary, and students knew he would serve in absentina.
Although ceremonial, Luthuli's election was significant as he was the first African and first non-white person to be nominated as Rector.
In October 1961, Luthuli received the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first African to win the award. He was awarded the prize for his use of nonviolent methods in his fight against racial discrimination.
Sir John Boyd-Orr
Glasgow University Alumni Sir John Boyd-Orr (1880-1971) served as rector from 1945-1947.
Born in Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, in 1880, Boyd-Orr won a bursary to attend Kilmarnock Academy and a scholarship to study at Glasgow University.
He studied Classics in the College of Arts and completed teacher training. Boyd-Orr would later return to the University to study Biology and Medicine.
He served as Director-General of the United Nations' FAO, was elected to the peerage and was awarded the Noble Prize in 1949. Sir John Boyd-Orr also served as Chancello of the university, from 1946-1971.
The Boyd Orr building was named after him, and opened in 1972.
Our Rectors are World-Changing
Ranging from beloved actors to global leaders, our past rectors include some impressive names and familar faces, far too many to list here. But read below for some of our noteable rectors and learn more about them!
Past rectors include:
- Jimmy Reid (Trade Unionist & Politician)
- Richard Wilson OBE (Actor)
- Johnny Ball (Presenter)
- Stanley Baldwin (UK Prime Minister)
- Winnie Mandela (Anti-apartheid activist & Politician)
- Tom Honeyman (director of Kelvingrove Art Gallery)
- Lord Reith (First Director-General of the BBC)
- Edward Snowden (whistleblower)
- Pat Kane (musician and Glasgow Alumnus)
- Johnny Ball (TV presenter)
Aamer Anwar
- Lawyer and human rights campaigner Aamer Anwar served as rector from 2017-2020.
- He studied Mechanical Engineering at Glasgow before switching degrees to Politics and Sociology. He engaged in stduent activism whilst at Glasgow, helping to introduce anonymous marking across the university boards.
- He became a solicitor in 2000 and at the time of his rectoral inauguration he owend a criminal defence practice in Glasgow. In 2024, he is still a lawyer and human rights activist, often working pro-bono.
Charles Kennedy
- Charles Kennedy (1959-2015) was a politician and Glasgow University graduate.
- He studied Politics and Philosophy at Glasgow, graduating with honours in 1982.
- During his studies he joined the University's oldest society, the Dialectic Society and became heavily involved in University debating.
- Kennedy won the Observer Mace debating competition, and trophies bearing his name can still be found in the Glasgow University Union. He would later serve a term as President of the Union from 1980-81.
- It was at university that he first became politically active, the first step in a long career in politics. At 23, he was elected as the youngest sitting MP.
- He was an MP for over 30 years and went on to be elected leader of the Liberal Democrats.
- In 2001 he recieved an honoury doctorate from the University of Glasgow and in 2008 he succeeded in becoming its rector.He was re-elected in 2011, serving a total of 6 years in the position.
- Kennedy's election campaign was interesting as he was supported not only by the Glasgow University Union but also Queen Margaret Union and the Glasgow University Sports Association.
Photos show: Kennedy as rector; One of Kennedy's debating trophies on display in the GUU; Kennedy as President of the GUU.
Photo credit: Glasgow University Library and University of Glasgow Archive Services
Greg Hemphill
- Greg Hemphill is probably best known for his leading role of Victor in the comedy show Still Game. A show he co-wrote and produced.
- Hemphill was born in Glasgow but spent much of his childhood in Canada. He returned to Glasgow for university, enrolling in the University of Glasgow, close to his father's native Maryhill, the current home of Murano Student Villiage.
- He graduated with an MA, with joint honours in Theatre and Film & TV.
- In 2001, he replaced Ross Kemp as rector of the University.
Jimmy Reid
- Jimmy Reid (1932-2010) was born in Govan. A trade union official, he was one of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Work-in leaders between June 1971 and October 1972.
- During this period, he stood for and won the Glasgow University rectorship. He served as Glasgow University Rector between 1971 and 1974.
- His rectoral address in the University's Bute Hall featured his famous condemnation of the ‘rat race’. The New York Times printed his full speech and called it “the greatest speech since President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address”. In 1972, University of Glasgow Publications printed his address in full.
- Reid strongly encouraged student participation during his rectorship. The previous rector Lord McLeod had promised to install a student assessor, Reid delivered this. George Brechin, the then, SRC Senior Vice President was appointed as Rector Assessor soon after Reid’s installation. Brechin himself was elected by the student body, giving students their first ever voice on the Court. Reid also stood alongside students at campus demonstrations.
- Reid's work led him to be immortalised with the annual Jimmy Reid Memorial Lectures.
Copy of Glasgow University Magazine after Reid's election.
Jimmy Reid upon the shoulders of students, after winning the rector election.
Photo Credit: Daily Record, 26th October 1971.
John MacCormick
- Born in Pollokshields, Glasgow, John MacCormick (1904-1961) studied law at the University of Glasgow.
- In 1927, MacCormick formed the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association (GUSNA). In 2024, GUSNA is still a Glasgow University society and its past members include: Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Jamie Hepburn MSP and Mhairi Black.
- MacCormick would later be involved in the creation of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP).
- In 1950, he was elected rector of the university, serving until 1953. A law student by the name of Ian Hamilton helped him on his rectoral campaign. Hamilton was one of the Scottish students retrieved the Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny) from Westminster Abby. In 1996, it the stone was formally returned to Scotland. In the film Stone of Destiny, MacCormick was played by actor Robert Carlyle.
- In 1951 he was awarded an honoury degree by the university and when he died in 1961, his service was held at the Glasgow University Chapel.
Lord Reith
- Lord Reith (1889-1971)
- John Reith was the First Director-General of the BBC, heading the organisation from 1927-1938. Reith oversaw the Corporation's development as a public service. He served in the UK Government during the Second World War and was elevated to Peerage in 1940, becoming the 1st Baron Reith.
- Lord Reith had strong ties to Glasgow. He attended the Glasgow Academy and would later become Rector of the University of Glasgow, from 1965-1968. The last TV appearance Reith made was filmed at the University.
Richard Wilson OBE
- Richard Wilson (OBE) is an actor, director, broadcaster and gay rights campaigner.
- Born in the Scottish town of Greenock, in 1936. He was a child during the Second World War and recalls the Greenock Blitz.
- Wilson spent his National Service working as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps, before moving on to work in a hospital labratory in Glasgow. He then switched career paths to acting. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1965 and was awarded an OBE for services to the dramatic arts in 1994.
- As an actor Richard Wilson is probably best known for his roles as Victor Meldrew in 'One Foot in the Grave' and as Camelot's court physician Giaus in the BBC show 'Merlin'. Wilson has also starred in favourites such as Gnomeo & Juliet, Father Ted and Doctor Who.
- In April 1996, Wilson was elected as Glasgow University Rector, a role he remained in until 1999. He was a popular rector, who was reported as having an open door policy with students who wanted to speak to him.