Principal of the University of Aberdeen

University head position

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.

Professor George Boyne succeeded Sir Ian Diamond as principal on 1 August 2018.[2]

## History

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The current office of principal dates to 1858 with the passage of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858.[3] 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.[4]

## List of Principals of the University of Aberdeen

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* 1865—76 The Very Reverend Peter Colin Campbell
* 1876—85 The Very Reverend William Robinson Pirie
* 1885—1900 Sir William Duguid Geddes
* 1900—09 The Very 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—present George Boyne

## List of Principals of former constituent colleges

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### Principals of King's College, Aberdeen

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Hector Boece, the first Principal of King's College, Aberdeen installed in 1500 |

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2024)

|

* 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

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* 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

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* Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
* Rector of the University of Aberdeen
* Ancient university governance in Scotland

## References

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1. ^ "Statement of Primary Responsibilities of Court" (PDF). University of Aberdeen. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
2. ^ "Duchess of Cornwall congratulates new principal of University of Aberdeen". HeraldScotland. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
3. ^ "Universities (Scotland) Act 1858", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1858 c. 83
4. ^ "The fusion of King's College and Marischal College". University of Aberdeen. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

* v
* t
* e

University of Aberdeen

Governance|

* Chancellor: The Queen
* Principal: George Boyne
* Rector: Martina Chukwuma-Ezike

* General council
* University court
* Senatus Academicus
* Students' representative council

History|

* Aberdeen doctors
* Bishop Elphinstone
* George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal
* Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities Parliamentary constituency
* Combined Scottish Universities Parliamentary Constituency
* Hector Boece
* King's College
* List of Professorships
* Regius Professorships
* Marischal College
* Privileged bodies of the United Kingdom

Academic|

* Christ's College, Aberdeen
* College of Arts and Social Sciences
* College of Life Sciences and Medicine
* College of Physical Sciences
* Lumsden and Sachs Fellowship
* Rowett Research Institute
* School of Law
* School of Medicine and Dentistry

Facilities|

* Cruickshank Botanic Garden
* Dr Gray's Hospital
* Elphinstone Hall
* Hillhead Student Village
* King's Museum
* Marischal Museum
* Maternity Hospital
* Mitchell's Hospital
* Raigmore Hospital
* Science Teaching Hub
* Sport and Recreation
* Hillhead Centre
* King's Pavilion
* Sir Duncan Rice Library
* Suttie Centre
* Woodend Hospital
* Woolmanhill Hospital
* Zoology Building

Student life|

* Aberdeen Student Show
* Conservative and Unionist Association
* Sports Union
* The Lairig Club
* Men's Football Club
* Rifle Club
* Rugby Football Club
* Shinty Club
* Students' Association
* The Gaudie
* Undergraduate Gown
* University Service Units
* University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland
* Officer Training Corps
* East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron

Related|

* Academics
* Alumni
* Chancellors
* Principals
* Rectors
* 5677 Aberdonia
* Aberdeen University Press
* Journal of Scottish Philosophy
* Gifford Lectures
* Littlejohn Vase
* Word (writers' festival)

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Principals of the University of Aberdeen

King's College,
Aberdeen|

* Hector Boece (1500)
* Alexander Arbuthnot (1569)
* Reverend David Rait (1598)
* William Leslie (1632)
* William Guild (1640)
* John Row (1652)
* Alexander Middleton (1662)
* George Middleton (1689)
* George Chalmers (1729)
* Roderick MacLeod (1800)
* William Jack (1815)

Marischal College,
Aberdeen|

* Robert Howie (1593)
* Gilbert Gray (1598)
* Andrew Adie (1616)
* Reverend William Forbes (1620)
* Patrick Dun (1621)
* William Moir (1649)
* James Leslie (1661)
* Robert Paterson (1678)
* Thomas Blackwell (primus) (1717)
* John Osborne (1728)
* Thomas Blackwell (secundus) (1748)
* Robert Pollock (1757)
* George Campbell (1759)
* William Laurence Brown (1796)
* Daniel Dewar (1832)

University of Aberdeen|

* Reverend Peter Colin Campbell (1865)
* Reverend William Robinson Pirie (1876)
* Sir William Duguid Geddes (1885)
* Reverend John Marshall Lang (1900)
* Sir George Adam Smith (1909)
* Sir William Hamilton Fyfe (1936)
* Sir Thomas Murray Taylor (1948)
* Sir Edward Maitland Wright (1962)
* Sir Fraser Noble (1976)
* George Paul McNicol (1981)
* Maxwell Irvine (1991)
* Sir Duncan Rice (1996)
* Sir Ian Diamond (2010)
* George Boyne (2018)

Category

* v
* t
* e

University officials of the Ancient Universities of Scotland

Chancellors|

* Queen Camilla (Aberdeen, 2013–)
* Anne, Princess Royal (Edinburgh, 2011–)
* Dame Katherine Grainger (Glasgow, 2020–)
* Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (St Andrews, 2006–)

Principals|

* George Boyne (Aberdeen, 2018–)
* Sir Peter Mathieson (Edinburgh, 2021–)
* Sir Anton Muscatelli (Glasgow, 2009–)
* Dame Sally Mapstone (St Andrews, 2016–)

Rectors|

* Martina Chukwuma-Ezike (Aberdeen, 2022–25)
* Simon Fanshawe (Edinburgh, 2024–27)
* Ghassan Abu-Sittah (Glasgow, 2024–27)
* Stella Maris (St Andrews, 2023–26)

The rector is a three-year elected position
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