Category:Principals

The office of Principal dates back to soon after the foundation of the University in 1585, Robert Rollock being the first to hold the post.

Chronological list

1586 Robert Rollock (previously Regent)

1599 Henry Charteris

1620 Patrick Sands

1622 Robert Boyd

1623 John Adamson

1652 William Colville (did not take up office)

1653 Robert Leighton

1662 William Colvill

1675 Andrew Cant

1685 Alexander Monro

1690 Gilbert Rule

1703 William Carstares

1716 William Wishart (primus)

1730 William Hamilton

1732 James Smith

1736 William Wishart (secundus)

1754 John Gowdie

1762 William Robertson

1793 George Husband Baird

1840 John Lee

1859 Sir David Brewster

1868 Sir Alexander Grant

1885 Sir William Muir

1903 Sir William Turner

1916 Sir Alfred James Ewing

1929 Sir Thomas Henry Holland

1944 Sir John Fraser

1948 Sir Edward Victor Appleton

1965 Michael Meredith Swann

1974 Hugh Robson

1979 John Harrison Burnett

1987 Sir David Smith

1994 Sir Stewart Sutherland, Baron Sutherland of Houndwood

2002 Sir Timothy O'Shea