The Principal

Return to List of Officers of the University

The office of the Principal of the University dates from the 15th century. The Principal was originally known as the Principal Regent - the senior member of the teaching staff - who was responsible for day-to-day administration of the old College, with jurisdiction over the other regents and the students. Additional responsibilities of office changed many times over the centuries.

Today, the role of the Principal can be likened to that of a chief executive. He is appointed by the University Court and is responsible to that body for the running of the University. The Principal sits on the University Court and is President of the Senate. In modern times he has also been Vice Chancellor and carries out the task of conferring degrees in the Chancellor's absence (a task that, since 1997, may also be delegated to Depute Vice-Chancellors).

Jump to a Century: 2000 | 1900 | 1800 | 1700 | 1600 | 1500

2009 - Sir Anton Muscatelli
2003 - Sir Muir Russell

2000

1995 - Sir Graeme Davies
1988 - Sir William Kerr Fraser
1977 - Sir Alwyn Williams
1961 - Sir Charles Wilson
1936 - Sir Hector Hetherington
1929 - Sir Robert Sangster Rait
1907 - Sir Donald MacAlister, 1st Baronet

1900

1898 - Robert Story
1873 - John Caird
1858 - Thomas Barclay
1823 - Duncan MacFarlan
1803 - William Taylor

1800

1785 - Archibald Davidson
1761 - William Leechman
1728 - Neil Campbell
1701 - John Stirling

1700

1690 - William Dunlop
1684 - James Fall
1662 - Edward Wright
1660 - Robert Baillie
1653 - Patrick Gillespie
1651 - Robert Ramsay
1626 - John Strang
1622 - John Cameron
1615 - Robert Boyd, of Trochrig

1600

1585 - Patrick Sharp
1580 - Thomas Smeaton
1574 - Andrew Melville
1556 - John Davidson
1555 - John Houston
1547 - John Hamilton
1540 - Alexander Hamilton
1527 - Alexander Logan
1523 - James Lindsay
1518 - John Mair
1517 - David Abercromby
1514 - David Melville
1510 - Thomas Coutts

1500

1498 - Patrick Coventry
1489 - John Doby
1488 - John Goldsmith
1485 - George Crichton
1483 - Walter Leslie
1480 - John Brown
1478 - John Goldsmith
1478 - John Doby
1475 - Walter Bunch
1460 - Duncan Bunch