List of professorships at the University of Cambridge


This is a list of professorships at the University of Cambridge.
During the early history of the University of Cambridge, the title professor simply denoted a doctor who taught in the university, a usage that continues to be found in, for example, US universities. However, from the 16th century onwards in Cambridge it was used to denote those holding "chairs" that had been founded by the university in a particular subject or endowed by a benefaction.
On occasion the University of Cambridge creates professorships for the benefit of a single individual, the chair ceasing to exist when that individual resigns, dies, or retires. These "personal" professorships limited to one tenure are not listed here.
The Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships, being created by the reigning monarch. The first five Regius Professorships, sometimes referred to as the Henrician Regius Professors, were granted arms and crests in 1590.

Professorships at the University of Cambridge

ProfessorshipFaculty or DepartmentBenefactorEstablishedDiscontinuedNotes
Sir Thomas Adams's Professor of ArabicMiddle Eastern StudiesSir Thomas Adams, 1st Baronet1632
Lucasian Professor of MathematicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical PhysicsHenry Lucas1663
Knightbridge Professor of PhilosophyPhilosophyJohn Knightbridge1683
Professor of MusicMusic1684

ProfessorshipFaculty or DepartmentBenefactorEstablishedDiscontinuedNotes
Yusuf Hamied 1702 Professor of ChemistryChemistry1702Formerly BP Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Organic Chemistry and Professor of Chemistry
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental PhilosophyAstronomyThomas Plume1704
Professor of AnatomyPhysiology, Development, and Neuroscience1707
Regius Professor of HistoryHistoryGeorge I1724Formerly Regius Professor of Modern History
Regius Professor of BotanyPlant Sciences1724Formerly Professor of Botany
Woodwardian Professor of GeologyEarth SciencesJohn Woodward1728
Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and GeometryPure Mathematics and Mathematical StatisticsThomas Lowndes1749
Norris–Hulse Professor of DivinityDivinity1777Formed in 1934 by merger of the Norrisian and Hulsean Professorships of Divinity
Jacksonian Professor of Natural PhilosophyPhysicsRev Richard Jackson1783
Downing Professor of the Laws of EnglandLawSir George Downing, 3rd Baronet1800

ProfessorshipFaculty or DepartmentBenefactorEstablishedDiscontinuedNotes
Disney Professor of ArchaeologyArchaeologyJohn Disney1851
Lord Almoner's Professor of ArabicOriental LanguagesThe Crown, via the Lord Almoner18151933Preceded by a readership of the same title
Sadleirian Professor of Pure MathematicsPure Mathematics and Mathematical StatisticsLady Mary Sadleir1860Preceded by a lectureship of the same title
Professor of Political EconomyEconomics1863Title first granted in 1828, permanent professorship established in 1863
Professor of ZoologyZoology1866Formerly Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy
Whewell Professor of International LawLawWilliam Whewell1867
Kennedy Professor of LatinClassicsFriends and former pupils of Benjamin Hall Kennedy1869Formerly Professor of Latin
Slade Professor of Fine ArtHistory of ArtFelix Slade1869
Cavendish Professor of PhysicsPhysicsWilliam Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire1871
Professor of EngineeringEngineering1875Formerly Professor of Mechanism and Applied Mechanics and Professor of Mechanical Science
Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon, Norse and CelticJoseph Bosworth1878
Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical HistoryHistoryWolstan Dixie1882Preceded by fellowships of Emmanuel College established from the same endowment
Professor of PhysiologyPhysiology, Development, and Neuroscience1883
Professor of PathologyPathology1883Also ex officio member of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine
Ely Professor of DivinityDivinityCanonry of Ely18891980
Bertrand Russell Professor of PhilosophyPhilosophy1896Formerly Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Mental Philosophy and Logic
Professor of Ancient HistoryClassics1898Also ex officio member of the Faculty Board of History
Drapers Professor of AgricultureBiologyWorshipful Company of Drapers18991990

ProfessorshipFaculty or DepartmentBenefactorEstablishedDiscontinuedNotes
Quick Professor of BiologyDetermined upon appointmentFrederick James Quick1906
Professor of AstrophysicsAstronomy1909
Schröder Professor of GermanModern and Medieval LanguagesMessrs J. Henry Schröder and Company1909
King Edward VII Professor of English LiteratureEnglishHarold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere1911
Arthur Balfour Professor of GeneticsGeneticsReginald Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher1912
Serena Professor of ItalianModern and Medieval LanguagesArthur Serena1919
Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval HistoryHistoryHarold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere1919Formerly Vere Harmsworth Professor of Naval History
Drapers Professor of FrenchModern and Medieval LanguagesWorshipful Company of Drapers1919
Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical EngineeringEngineeringEmile Mond1919
Professor of Physical ChemistryChemistry1920
Sir William Dunn Professor of BiochemistryBiochemistrySir William Dunn, 1st Baronet, of Lakenheath1921
Professor of the History of Political ThoughtHistoryLaura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial1927
Rouse Ball Professor of MathematicsPure Mathematics and Mathematical StatisticsW. W. Rouse Ball1927
Rouse Ball Professor of English LawLawW. W. Rouse Ball1927
Professor of Economic HistoryHistory1928Also ex officio member of the Faculty Board of Economics
Professor of Modern HistoryHistory1930
Laurence Professor of Ancient PhilosophyClassicsPerceval Maitland Laurence1930
Laurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyClassicsPerceval Maitland Laurence1930
Montague Burton Professor of Industrial RelationsEconomicsMontague Burton1930
Professor of GeographyGeography1931
Professor of Experimental PsychologyPsychology1931
Professor of Mineralogy and PetrologyEarth Sciences1931
John Humphrey Plummer ProfessorsDetermined upon appointment1931
Goldsmiths' Professor of Materials ScienceMaterials Science and MetallurgyWorshipful Company of Goldsmiths1931
William Wyse Professor of Social AnthropologySocial AnthropologyWilliam Wyse1932
Professor of SpanishModern and Medieval Languages1933
Comparative PhilologyClassics1937
Professor of Medieval HistoryHistory1937
Professor of EducationEducation1938
Pitt Professor of American History and InstitutionsDetermined upon appointmentCambridge University Press1944
Professor of Electrical EngineeringEngineering1944
Shell Professor of Chemical EngineeringChemical Engineering and BiotechnologyRoyal Dutch Shell1945
Herbert Thompson Professor of EgyptologyOriental StudiesHenry Francis Herbert Thompson19451977Subsequently re-established as a personal professorship
Hopkinson and Imperial Chemical Industries Professor of Applied ThermodynamicsEngineeringImperial Chemical Industries1950
Professor of Small Animal SurgeryVeterinary Medicine1950Formerly Professor of Comparative Oncology and Genetics and Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies
Smuts Professor of Commonwealth HistoryHistory1952Formerly Smuts Professor of the History of the British Commonwealth
Professor of Medieval and Renaissance EnglishEnglish1954
Wolfson Professor of CriminologyCriminology1959
Professor of Manufacturing EngineeringEngineering1960
Sheild Professor of PharmacologyPharmacology1961
Professor of Mathematical StatisticsPure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics1961
Professor of MedicineMedicine1962
Professor of Applied MathematicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics1964
Frank Ramsey Professor of EconomicsEconomics1965Formerly Professor of Economics
Professor of EnglishEnglish1966
Professor of EngineeringEngineering1966
Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil EngineeringEngineeringKirby Laing Foundation1966Formerly Professor of Engineering
Professor of PhysicsPhysics1966
Professor of GeophysicsEarth Sciences1966
Churchill Professor of Mathematics for Operational ResearchPure Mathematics and Mathematical StatisticsEsso Petroleum Company Limited1966
Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science, and CivilizationEast Asian Studies1966Formerly Professor of Chinese
Mary Marshall and Arthur Walton Professor of the Physiology of ReproductionPhysiology, Development, and NeuroscienceFrancis Marshall1967
Professor of Mathematical PhysicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics1967
Professor of Slavonic StudiesModern and Medieval Languages1968
Simón Bolívar Professor of Latin-American StudiesDetermined upon appointmentGovernment of Venezuela1968
Professor of ChemistryPhysics & Chemistry1968
Geoffrey Moorhouse Gibson Professor of ChemistryChemistry1970
Professor of ArchitectureArchitecture1970
Professor of EconomicsEconomics1970
Rank Professor of EngineeringEngineering1971
Arthur Goodhart Visiting Professor in Legal ScienceLawOverbrook Foundation1971
Alexander Todd Visiting Professor of ChemistryPhysics & Chemistry1972
Professor of LawLaw1973
Professor of Epidemiology and MedicinePublic Health and Primary Care1975
Professor of Obstetrics and GynaecologyObstetrics and Gynaecology1975
Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and MedicineClinical Biochemistry1977
Professor of RadiologyRadiology1977
Sheila Joan Smith Professor of ImmunologyMedicineHerchel Smith1977Formerly Sheila Joan Smith Professor of Tumour Immunology
Professor of PaediatricsPaediatrics1978
Professor of Mathematical PhysicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics1978
Paul Mellon Professor of American HistoryHistoryAndrew W. Mellon Foundation1980
Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal ChemistryClinical MedicineAmerican Friends of Cambridge University1982
Charles Darwin Professor of Animal EmbryologySchool of the Biological SciencesEdward J. Bles1982Previously established as a personal professorship
Jawaharlal Nehru Visiting ProfessorDetermined upon appointmentEdward J. Bles1983
Professor of Japanese StudiesEast Asian StudiesKeidanren1984
Professor of SociologySociology1985
Professor of HaematologyHaematology1986
KPMG Professor of Management StudiesJudge Business SchoolPeat, Marwick, and Mitchell & Co.1986
Professor of Clinical GerontologyPublic Health and Primary Care1987
Professor of MedicineMedicine1987
Herchel Smith Professor of Organic ChemistryChemistryAmerican Friends of Cambridge University1988
Professor of NeurologyClinical Neurosciences1988
Professor of English and Applied LinguisticsModern and Medieval Languages1988
Sir Alan Cottrell Professor of Materials ScienceMaterials Science and Metallurgy1988Formerly Professor of Materials Science
Professor of Theoretical GeophysicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics1989
George Pitt-Rivers Professor of Archaeological ScienceArchaeology1990
Professor of NeurosurgeryClinical Neurosciences1990
Diageo Professor of Management StudiesJudge Business School1990
Professor of Molecular EndocrinologyClinical Biochemistry1990Formerly Serono Professor of Molecular Endocrinology
Professor of Land EconomyLand Economy1991
Professor of VirologyPathology1991
S. J. Berwin Professor of Corporate LawLawS. J. Berwin and Co.1991
GlaxoSmithKline Professor of Microbial PathogenesisMedicineGlaxo Holdings plc1991
Professor of HistopathologyPathology1992
G. I. Taylor Professor of Fluid MechanicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical PhysicsGladys Davies1992
BBV Foundation Visiting ProfessorDetermined upon appointmentBBV Foundation, Bilbao1992
John Wilfrid Linnett Visiting Professor of ChemistryCambridge1993
Professor of GeographyGeography1993
Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property LawLawAmerican Friends of Cambridge University1993
Professor of Statistical SciencePure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics1994
Professor of Computer ScienceComputer Science and Technology1994
Professor of European LawLaw1994
Professor of Information EngineeringEngineering1994
Professor of ImmunologyPathology1995
Marks & Spencer Professor of Farm Animal Health, Food Science, and Food SafetyVeterinary MedicineMarks and Spencer plc1996
Professor of SurgerySurgery1996
Beckwith Professor of Management StudiesJudge Business SchoolPeter Beckwith1996
Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor of International RelationsPolitics and International StudiesB.A.T. Industries plc1996
Professor of Medical GeneticsMedical Genetics1997
Hans Rausing Professor of History and Philosophy of ScienceHistory and Philosophy of Science1997
Ursula Zoëllner Professor of Cancer ResearchOncologyF. A. Zoëllner1997
Professor of Mechanical EngineeringEngineering1997
Professor of Computer TechnologyComputer Science and Technology1997
Sinyi Professor of Chinese ManagementJudge Business SchoolSinyi Foundation1997
Robert Sansom Professor of Computer ScienceComputer Science and TechnologyRobert Sansom1998
Professor of EndocrinologyMedicine1998
Dennis Gillings Professor of Health ManagementJudge Business SchoolDennis Gillings1998
Margaret Thatcher Professor of Enterprise StudiesJudge Business SchoolMargaret Thatcher Foundation1998
Unilever Professor of Molecular Sciences InformaticsChemistryUnilever plc1999
BP Professor of Petroleum ScienceEarth Sciences1999
Grosvenor Professor of Real Estate FinanceLand Economy1999
Schlumberger Professor of Complex Physical SystemsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics1999
Professor of Chemical EngineeringChemical Engineering and Biotechnology1999
Professor of EducationEducation2000Formerly Professor of Primary Education
Professor of EducationEducation2000Formerly Professor of Educational Leadership
Professor of LinguisticsModern and Medieval Languages2000
Professor of Psychology in the Social SciencesPsychology2000
Professor of Plant EcologyPlant Sciences2000
Professor of Physical GeographyGeography2000
Professor of Human GeographyGeography2000
Professor of PsychiatryPsychiatry2000

ProfessorshipFaculty or DepartmentBenefactorEstablishedDiscontinuedNotes
N. M. Rothschild & Sons Professor of Mathematical SciencesN. M. Rothschild & Sons2001Ex officio Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences
Marconi Professor of Communications SystemsComputer Science and TechnologyMarconi plc2001
Professor of Oncological PathologyPathology2001
Professor of Cardiothoracic SurgerySurgery2001
Adam Smith Professor of Corporate GovernanceJudge Business School2001Formerly Robert Monks Professorship of Corporate Governance
Professor of EnglishEnglish2001
Van Eck Professor of EngineeringEngineeringFred van Eck2001
Prince Philip Professor of TechnologyEngineering2001Established to mark the 80th birthday of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the 25th anniversary of his election as Chancellor
Hitachi Professor of Electron Device PhysicsPhysicsHitachi Ltd2002
Leigh Trapnell Professor of Quantum PhysicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical PhysicsHazel N. Trapnell2002
Professor of AccountingJudge Business School2002
Sandra Dawson Visiting Professor of Marketing, Strategy, and InnovationJudge Business School2002Formerly Visiting Professorship of Marketing, Strategy, and Innovation
Professor of Environmental Systems AnalysisGeography2003
Professor of Plant Systematics and EvolutionPlant Sciences2003
Professor of GastroenterologyMedicine2003
Herchel Smith Professorship of Pure MathematicsPure Mathematics and Mathematical StatisticsHerchel Smith2004
Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular GeneticsGeneticsHerchel Smith2004
Professor of EducationEducation2004
Professor of EducationEducation20042017
Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health NeuroscienceDetermined upon appointmentWoco Foundation of Canada2004
Professor of Information EngineeringEngineering2004
Herchel Smith Professor of PhysicsPhysicsHerchel Smith2004
Herchel Smith Professor of BiochemistryBiochemistryHerchel Smith2005
Professor of Family ResearchPsychology2005
French Government Visiting ProfessorModern and Medieval Languages2005
Professor of EducationEducation2005
Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular BiologyPhysiology, Development, and NeuroscienceHerchel Smith2006
Sigrid Rausing Professor of Social AnthropologySocial AnthropologySigrid M. Rausing2006Formerly Sigrid Rausing Professor of Collaborative Anthropology
Miriam Rothschild Professorship of Conservation BiologyZoologyLisbet Rausing Charitable Fund2006
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Professor of Modern Arabic StudiesMiddle Eastern StudiesQaboos bin Said al Said2006
Professor of Applied MathematicsApplied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics2006
Professor of PhysicsPhysics2006
Professor of Comparative PathologyVeterinary MedicineMinistry of Agriculture and Fisheries2006Formerly Professor of Veterinary Science
Genzyme Professor of Experimental MedicineMedicineGenzyme Corporation2006
Moran Professor of Conservation and DevelopmentGeography2006
Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of RiskPure Mathematics and Mathematical StatisticsWinton Charitable Foundation2006
Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business and EnterpriseJudge Business SchoolHigh Commission of India2007
Li Ka Shing Professor of OncologyOncologyLi Ka Shing Foundation2007
Prince Philip Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyZoology2007Established to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the installation of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Chancellor
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Professor of FinanceJudge Business SchoolEranda Rothchild Foundation2007
Professor of Experimental AstrophysicsPhysics2008
Professor of EducationEducation2008
A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek CultureClassicsA. G. Leventis Foundation2008
Tata Steel Professor of MetallurgyMaterials Science and MetallurgyTata Steel Ltd2008
Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic PathologyVeterinary Medicine2009Formerly Professor of Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology
Diane Middlebrook and Carl Djerassi Visiting Professor of Gender StudiesPolitics and International StudiesCarl Djerassi2009
Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor of Urban DesignArchitectureD. G. Marshall of Cambridge Trust2010Formerly Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor of Sustainable Urban Design
Visiting Professor of ArchitectureArchitecture2010
Professor of Photonic Systems and DisplaysEngineering2010
Pembroke Visiting Professor of International FinanceJudge Business School2010
BP Foundation McKenzie Professor of Earth SciencesEarth SciencesBP Foundation2010
Humanitas Visiting ProfessorsInstitute for Strategic Dialogue2010
Professor of Historical and Cultural GeographyGeography2011Formerly Professor of Demography
Sultan Qaboos Professor of Abrahamic Faiths and Shared ValuesDivinityQaboos bin Said al Said2011
Professor of EducationEducation2011
Dyson Professor of Fluid MechanicsEngineeringDyson Technology Limited2011
Regius Professor of EngineeringEngineering2011Established to commemorate the retirement of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Chancellor
Harold Samuel Professor of Law and Environmental PolicyDepartment of Land Economy, University of CambridgeEstate Management Development Fund2012-
Chong Hua Professor of Chinese DevelopmentPolitics and International StudiesChong Hua Educational Foundation2012
Professor of Sustainable Reaction EngineeringChemical Engineering and Biotechnology2012
Professor of PoliticsPolitics and International Studies2012
Professor of EngineeringEngineering2012
John Harvard Professor of the Arts, Humanities, and Social SciencesAlternating between institutions in the Schools of Arts and Humanities, and of the Humanities and Social Sciences2013
Stephen W. Hawking Professor of CosmologyApplied Mathematics and Theoretical PhysicsAvery–Tsui Foundation2014
Professor of History of ArtHistory of Art2015
LEGO Professor of Play in Education, Development and LearningEducationThe LEGO Foundation2015
Janeway Professor of Financial EconomicsEconomicsWeslie and William Janeway2015
Professor of Infrastructure GeotechnicsEngineering2015
El-Erian Professor of EconomicsEconomicsMohamed El-Erian2016
Sir David Williams Professor of Public LawLawRobinson College2016
Professor of Public PolicyPolitics and International Studies2016
Russell R. Geiger Professor of Crop SciencePlant SciencesRussell R. Geiger2016
Professor of Information and CommunicationsEngineering2016
Professor of Computer ScienceComputer Science and Technology2016
Al-Kindi ProfessorGeneticsKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology2017
Bennett Professor of Public PolicyPolitics and International StudiesPeter W. Bennett2017
Dr John C. Taylor Professor of Public InnovationEngineeringJohn Taylor2017
Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Professor of the Deep History and Archaeology of AfricaArchaeologyJonathan and Jennifer Oppenheimer Foundation2017
ARUK Professor of RheumatologyMedicineArthritis Research UK2018
DeepMind Professor of Machine LearningComputer Science and TechnologyDeepMind2019