List of chancellors of the University of Cambridge


The following is a list of chancellors of the University of Cambridge from c.1215 to the present day. Chancellors were elected annually until 1514, and thereafter were elected for life.
TenureChancellorNotes
c.1215–c.1232Richard of Wetheringsett
c.1246Hugh de Hotton
1256Reginald Gerninghall
1257Stephen Hepworth
1259William de Ludham
1260Richard de Gedney
1261Richard Dryfield
1267John de Asgarby
1270-1275John Hooke
1276Roger de Fulbourn
1283Andrew de Gisleham
1286Thomas Sheringham
1287Stephen Hepworth
1289-1290Ralph de Leicester
1290-1292Geoffery de Pakenham
1293-1295Henry de Boyton
1295-1296John de Bradenham
1296-1299Thomas de Sheringham
1299Stephen Hepworth
1300-1303Stephen Haslingfield
1303-1307Stephen de Segrace
1307Stephen Haslingfield
1315Richard de Ashton
1321-1326Roger Northburgh has been incorrectly described as Chancellor since 1691.
1326-1329Richard de Badew
1329-1331Thomas de Foxton
c.1215–c.1232Robert de Winwick
c. 1330Robert de Winwick
1331-1334John de Langley
1334-1335Robert de Mildenhall
1335-1337Henry de Herwarden
1337-1339Richard Harling
1340Robert de Claydon
1341Thomas de Northwood
1344Thomas de Northwood
1346-1348John de CrakhallRe-elected in 1348 on 9 June
1348Thomas de Grantchester
1348William de LymberghElected 15 December
1349-1351Richard Leicester Elected 21 Jan. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography says: "Wetheringsett , Richard of , churchman and theologian,... is not to be confused with the later chancellor Richard Leicester, who served in 1349–50."
1351Richard Harling
1352Anthony of Grantchester
1352-1359William Tynkell
1359-1360Thomas Sutton
1360-1361Richard de Wetherset
1361-1362Michael de Haynton
1361-1366Michael de Causton
1366-1369William de Gotham
1369Thomas de Stewkley
1371John de Donwich
1373-1374Adam de Lakenheath
1374John de Donwich
1376William de Gotham
1378-1379Richard Scrope
1380Eudo Zouche
1380-1381John Cavendish
1382Guy Zouche
1382-1383John de Bromyard
1383John of Neketon
1384John de Burgh
1385Thomas Hetherset
1386John de Burgh
1388William Colvile
1390-1391Richard Dereham
1391William Colvile
1392John de Neketon
1394William Colvile
1396Guy Zouche
1400-1402Richard de Billingford
1404-1408Richard Dereham
1409-1413Richard de Billingford
1414Stephen le Scrope
1415-1422John de Rickingale
1422-1423Thomas of Cobham
1424-1426Robert Fitzhugh
1426William Wymbell
1427Marmaduke Lumley
1429-1430John Holeroke
1431-1432William Lascells
1432Richard de Billingford
1433-1435Richard Cawdray
1436-1445John Langton
1445-1446Nicholas Kenton
1447John Langton
1448Robert Ascogh
1450-1451Nicholas Close
1451-1456William Percy
1456-1458Lawrence Booth
1458William Wilflete
1459-1460Robert Woodlark
1461Richard Scroope
1462-1463Robert Woodlark
1463-1464John Booth
1464William Wilflete
1465-1468John Harrison
1466William Wilflete
1468-1469Edward Story
1469-1471Thomas Rotherham
1471-1472Edward Story
1473-1479Thomas Rotherham
1479-1483John Boynton
1483-1485Thomas Rotherham
1490Thomas Cosyn
1494-1496John Blythe
1496-1499George Fitzhugh
1499-1500Thomas Rotherham
1500Richard Fox
1502George Fitzhugh
1503Thomas Ruthall
1504-1535John FisherAppointed for life in 1514
1535-1540Thomas Cromwell
1540-1547Stephen Gardiner
1547-1552Edward Seymour
1552-1553The Duke of Northumberland
1553-1555Stephen Gardiner
1556-1558Reginald Pole
1559-1598The Lord Burghley
1598-1601The Earl of Essex
1601-1612The Earl of Salisbury
1612-1614The Earl of Northampton
1614-1626The Earl of Suffolk
1626-1628The Duke of Buckinghamsee Election for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, 1626
1628-1649The Earl of HollandA Royalist officer in the English Civil War from 1643, executed for treason in 1649
1649-1651The Earl of Manchester
1651-1660Oliver St John
1660-1671The Duke of ManchesterThe Earl of Manchester, reinstated as Chancellor after the Restoration
1671-1674The Duke of Buckingham
1674-1682The Duke of Monmouth
1682-1688The Duke of Albemarle
1689-1748The Duke of Somerset
1748-1768The Duke of Newcastlesee Election for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, 1748
1768-1811The Duke of Grafton
1811-1834The Duke of Gloucester and Edinburghsee Election for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, 1811
1834-1840The Marquess Camden
1840-1847The Duke of Northumberland
1847-1861The Prince Consortsee Election for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, 1847
1861-1891The Duke of Devonshire
1892-1908The Duke of Devonshire
1908-1919The Lord Rayleigh
1919-1930The Earl of Balfour
1930-1947The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley
1948-1950Jan Smuts
1950-1967The Lord Teddersee Election for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, 1950
1967-1976The Lord Adrian
1976-2011The Duke of Edinburgh
2011-Lord Sainsbury of Turvillesee Election for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, 2011