Rector of the University of Glasgow


The Rector of the University of Glasgow is one of the most senior posts within the institution, elected every three years by students. The theoretical role of the Rector is to represent students to the senior management of the University and raise issues which concern them. In order to achieve this, the Rector is the statutory chair of the Court, the governing body of the University.
The position's place in the university was enshrined by statute in the Universities Act 1889, which provided for the election of a Rector at all of the universities in existence at the time in Scotland. Students of the University of Dundee also elect a Rector.
The current Rector is Aamer Anwar, a lawyer based in Glasgow.

Former Rectors

Students have not always voted for working rectors; anti-apartheid activists Winnie Mandela and Albert Lutuli were elected on the understanding that they would be unable to undertake the position's responsibilities, while Mordechai Vanunu was unable to fulfil his duties as he was not allowed to leave Israel and Edward Snowden was not expected to fulfill his duties due to an ongoing self-imposed exile in Russia. However, other recent Rectors have been elected on the presumption they will be working rectors, e.g. Ross Kemp, who resigned from the post after the Students' Representative Council voted to request his resignation, such was the extent of student dissatisfaction with his performance.
At the Rectorial election in February 2004, no nominations for the post of Rector had been received. Upon the end of Greg Hemphill's term, the University was left without a Rector for the first time in the position's history. The University Senate set another election date for December, when Mordechai Vanunu was elected.

Nations

Until 1977, for Rectorial election purposes, the University was divided into four 'nations' based on the students' birthplace, originally called Clidisdaliae, Thevidaliae, Albaniae and Rosay, and later as Glottiana, Loudoniana, Transforthana and Rothseiana. Three of the 'nations' consisted of defined areas in Scotland, with Loudoniana consisting of students from all other places.

List of Rectors

YearsNameNationalityBiography
1648–1650Robert RamsayClergyman
1690–1691David BoyleLord Clerk Register
1691–1718Sir John Maxwell of Nether ParkCommissioner for Renfrewshire in the Scottish Parliament

YearsNameNationalityBiography
1691–1718Sir John Maxwell of Nether ParkCommissioner for Renfrewshire in the Scottish Parliament
1718–1720Mungo Graham of GorthieCommr. justiciary for Highlands
1720–1723Robert Dundas, of Arniston, the elderLord President of the Court of Session
1723–1725James Hamilton of Aikenhead
1725–1726Sir Hugh Montgomerie of Hartfield
1726–1729George RossMaster of Ross, 13th Lord Ross
1729–1731Francis Dunlop of Dunlop
1731–1733John Orr of Barrowfield
1733–1738Colin Campbell of Blythswood
1738–1740George Bogle of Daldowie,Glasgow Tobacco Lord
1740–1742John Graham of Dugalston
1742–1743John Orr of Barrowfield
1743–1746George Bogle of Daldowie
1746–1748Sir John Maxwell of Pollock
1748–1750George Bogle of Daldowie
1750–1753Sir John Maxwell of Pollock
1753–1755William Mure of Caldwell
1755–1757John BoyleThe 3rd Earl of Glasgow
1757–1759Patrick Boyle, Lord Shewalton
1759–1761James Milliken of Milliken
1761–1763The 15th Earl of ErrollGrand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland
1763–1764Thomas MillerLord Glenlee, Lord Advocate
1764–1767William Mure of Caldwell
1767–1768Dunbar DouglasThe 4th Earl of Selkirk
1768–1770Sir Adam Ferguson of Kilkerran
1770–1772Robert Ord
1772–1773Lord Frederick CampbellParliamentarian, Lord Clerk Register
1773–1775Charles Schaw Cathcart,9th Lord Cathcart, General, Ambassador to Russia
1775–1777Sir James William MontgomeryLord Advocate, Chief Baron of Exchequer
1777–1779Andrew Stewart of Torrance
1779–1781The 7th Earl of LauderdaleRepresentative peer
1781–1783Henry DundasLord President of the Court of Session
1783–1785Edmund BurkePhilosopher
1785–1787Robert Graham of GartmoreParliamentarian, former student
1787–1789Prof. Adam SmithProfessor of Moral Philosophy, author of The Wealth of Nations, former student
1789–1791Walter Campbell of Shawfield
1791–1793Thomas Kennedy of Dunure
1793–1795William Mure of Caldwell
1795–1797William McDowell of Garthland
1797–1799George Oswald of Auchencruive
1799–1801Lord SuccothLord Justice General

YearsNameNationalityBiography
1799–1801Lord SuccothLord Justice General
1801–1803Lord Craig
1803–1805Robert Dundas of ArnistonLord Advocate, Chief Baron of Exchequer
1805–1807Henry Glassford of Dugalston
1807–1809Archibald Colquhoun of KillermontLord Advocate
1809–1811Archibald Campbell of Blythswood
1811–1813Lord Archibald Hamiltonparliamentarian
1813–1815General Thomas GrahamThe 1st Baron Lynedoch, General
1815–1817Lord BoyleLord Justice Clerk
1817–1819George BoyleThe 4th Earl of Glasgow
1819–1820Kirkman FinlayLord Provost of Glasgow
1820–1822Francis JeffreySenator of the College of Justice, former student
1822–1824Sir James MackintoshJurist
1824–1826Henry BroughamLord Chancellor 1830–1834
1826–1829Thomas CampbellPoet, former student
1829–1831The 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne
Chancellor of the Exchequer
1831–1834Henry Thomas CockburnSenator of the College of Justice
1834–1836Lord Stanleya later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1836–1838Sir Robert Peel2nd Bt., the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1838–1840Sir James Graham2nd Bt., Home Secretary
1840–1842The 2nd Marquess of Breadalbaneparliamentarian, former Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland
1842–1844Fox Mauleparliamentarian and a later Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland
1844–1846Andrew RutherfurdLord Advocate
1846–1847Lord John RussellPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
1847–1848William Mure of Caldwellclassical scholar, parliamentarian
1848–1850Thomas Babington MacaulayParliamentarian
1850–1852Sir Archibald Alison, 1st Bt.Institutional legal writer
1852–1854The 13th Earl of Eglintona former Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
1854–1856The 8th Duke of Argyllparliamentarian
1856–1859Sir Edward Bulwer-Lyttonwriter and politician
1859–1862The 8th Earl of ElginViceroy of India 1862–1863
1862–1865The 3rd Viscount PalmerstonPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
1865–1868Lord GlencorseLord President of the Court of Session
1868–1871The 15th Earl of Derbya former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
1871–1877Benjamin Disraeli Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1877–1880William Ewart GladstonePrime Minister of the United Kingdom
1880–1883John BrightQuaker, activist
1883–1884Henry Fawcetteconomist and parliamentarian
1884–1887Edmund Law LushingtonProfessor of Greek
1887–1890The 1st Earl of Lyttonformer Viceroy of India
1890–1893A.J. Balfourformer Chief Secretary for Ireland and a later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1893–1896Sir John Eldon GorstSolicitor-General for England and Wales
1896–1899Joseph Chamberlainstatesman, father of Sir Austen Chamberlain
1899–1902The 5th Earl of Roseberyformer Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

1899–1902The 5th Earl of Roseberyformer Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1902–1905George WyndhamChief Secretary for Ireland
1905–1908H.H. AsquithPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
1908–1911The 1st Earl Curzon of Kedlestonformer Viceroy of India, Foreign Secretary
1911–1914Augustine BirrellChief Secretary for Ireland and poet
1914–1919Raymond PoincaréPresident of the French Republic and a former Prime Minister of France
1919–1922Bonar LawPrime Minister of the United Kingdom, former student
1922–1925The 1st Earl of BirkenheadLord Chancellor
1925–1928Sir Austen Chamberlainparliamentarian and statesman
1928–1931Stanley BaldwinPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
1931–1934Compton Mackenzienovelist
1934–1937Sir Iain Colquhoun7th Bt.
1937–1938Dick Sheppardpacifist
1938–1945Sir Archibald Sinclair4th Bt., Leader of the British Liberal Party
1945–1947Sir John Boyd-Orrphysician, nutritionist and Nobel laureate
1947–1950Walter Elliotpolitician
1950–1953John MacCormicklawyer and famed nationalist
1953–1956Tom Honeymanphysician, director of Kelvingrove Art Gallery
1956–1959Rab Butlerbecame Home Secretary while rector and a former Chancellor of the Exchequer
1959–1962Quintin HoggThe 2nd Viscount Hailsham, Lord President of the Council
1962–1965Albert LutuliPresident of the African National Congress and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
1965–1968The 1st Baron Reithformerly the first Director-General of the BBC
1968–1971George MacLeodThe Baron MacLeod of Fuinary; Founder of the radical Christian organisation, the Iona Community; Past Moderator of the Church of Scotland
1971–1974Jimmy Reidtrade union activist
1974–1977Arthur Montfordsports journalist
1977–1980John L. BellElected while a student at the University
1980–1984Reginald BosanquetTV newsreader
1984–1987Michael KellyLord Provost of Glasgow
1987–1990Winnie Madikizela-MandelaSouth African activist and politician
1990–1993Pat Kanemusician, former student
1993–1996Johnny BallTV presenter
1996–1999Richard Wilsonactor
1999–2000Ross Kempactor

2001–2004Greg Hemphillactor, former student
2004–2005Position vacant
2005–2008Mordechai VanunuIsraeli nuclear technician and whistle-blower
2008–2014Charles Kennedyformer Leader of the Liberal Democrats, former student
2014–2017Edward Snowdencomputer professional/intelligence whistleblower
2017–2020Aamer AnwarLawyer, human rights campaigner and alumnus