List of principals of the University of Aberdeen
The principal of the University of Aberdeen is the working administrative head of the university, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the overall running of the university, presiding over the main academic body of the university, the Senatus Academicus.[1] The principal is normally also created Vice-Chancellor of the university, enabling him to perform the functions reserved to the Chancellor in the latter's absence, such as the awarding of degrees.
The office of principal dates to 1858 with the passage of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858.[2] The position was created with the amalgamation of the two existing ancient universities in Aberdeen, King's College (est. 1495) and Marischal College (est. 1593) in 1860.[3]
Professor Pete Edwards succeeded George Boyne as principal on 1 November 2025.[4]
List
Principals of the University of Aberdeen
- 1865—76 Reverend Peter Colin Campbell
- 1876—85 Reverend William Robinson Pirie
- 1885—1900 Sir William Duguid Geddes
- 1900—09 Reverend John Marshall Lang
- 1909—35 Sir George Adam Smith
- 1936—48 Sir William Hamilton Fyfe
- 1948—62 Sir Thomas Murray Taylor
- 1962—76 Sir Edward Maitland Wright
- 1976—81 Sir Fraser Noble
- 1981—91 George Paul McNicol
- 1991—96 Maxwell Irvine
- 1996—2010 Sir Duncan Rice
- 2010—18 Sir Ian Diamond
- 2018—25 George Boyne
- 2025—present Peter Edwards
Principals of former constituent colleges
Principals of King's College, Aberdeen
- 1500—34 Hector Boece
- 1569—83 Alexander Arbuthnot
- 1598—1632 Reverend Dr David Rait
- 1632–? William Leslie
- 1640—51 William Guild
- 1652—61 John Row
- 1662–1679 Alexander Middleton
- 1689–1716 George Middleton
- 1729–? George Chalmers
- 1800—15 Roderick MacLeod
- 1815—54 William Jack
Principals of Marischal College
- 1593—98 Robert Howie
- 1598—1614 Gilbert Gray
- 1616—19 Andrew Adie
- 1620—21 Reverend William Forbes
- 1621—49 Patrick Dun
- 1649—61 William Moir
- 1661—78 James Leslie
- 1678—1717 Robert Paterson
- 1717—28 Thomas Blackwell (primus)
- 1728—48 John Osborne
- 1748—57 Thomas Blackwell (secundus)
- 1757—59 Robert Pollock
- 1759—96 George Campbell
- 1796—1830 William Laurence Brown
- 1832—60 Daniel Dewar
See also
- Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
- Rector of the University of Aberdeen
- Ancient university governance in Scotland
References
- ^ "Statement of Primary Responsibilities of Court" (PDF). University of Aberdeen. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Universities (Scotland) Act 1858", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1858 c. 83
- ^ "The fusion of King's College and Marischal College". University of Aberdeen. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "New University of Aberdeen principal to start role early". BBC News. 13 October 2025.