Rector of the University of Aberdeen

The Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and chairman in the University Court of the University of Aberdeen. The position is rarely known by its full title and most often referred to simply as "Rector". The Rector is elected by students of the University and serves a three year term. Although the position has existed since 1495, it was only officially made the students' representative in 1860.^[1]

The position exists in common throughout the ancient universities of Scotland with Rectorships in existence at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and St Andrews. The position is given legal standing by virtue of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 and is the third office of precedence in the university (following the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor / Principal). Rectors also appoint a Rector's Assessor, who may carry out their functions when they are absent from the University.

The 1996 election was unusual in that one of the two candidates (who lost by approximately 100 votes) had recently completed studies at the University, highlighting the fact that there is no rule preventing a member of the student body from standing for the post and that the trend for celebrity candidates might distance the office from the issues of student life.^[2]

The current Rector is Stephen Robertson.

Rector's Assessor

Each Rector appoints a Rector's Assessor to the University Court. He or she maintains a permanent seat in the University Court during the period of their duty. The Rector's Assessor furthermore acts, with the support of the president of the Students' Association, as the Rector’s representative when the Rector cannot be present, additionally they sit on the Joint Planning, Finance & Estates Committee and Student Affairs Committee in an official permanent capacity. Further roles and responsibilities include being a 'focal point' for the student body to interact with the decision making levels of university governance, and coordinating the on-campus and online presence for the Rector.

In the 2007–08 academic year, James Michael Wilson (a then first-year student at the University) was Rector's Assessor for Robin Harper.^[3] Mr Wilson was the youngest Rector's Assessor ever to be appointed to the position at the University of Aberdeen or any of its predecessor Colleges.

2011 Election

Following complaints about the campaign, the first election of mid 2011 was deemed null and void, and it was decided that nominations would re-open in October. There were 6 candidates running this time, and on 10/11/11 it was announced that Dr Maitland Mackie would be taking over the position, having received the most votes

List of Rectors

Rector of King's College, Aberdeen

• 1637–? : Arthur Johnston^[4]
• 1639–1644 : William Guild^[5]
• 1651–? : Andrew Cant^[6]
• 1677–1682 : John Menzies^[7]
• 1805–1814 : Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie^[8]
• 1827-1837 : John Arbuthnott, 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott^[9]
• 1838–? : Lord Francis Egerton^[10][11]
• 1857–? : John Inglis^[12]

Rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen

• 1663–? : George Meldrum^[13]
• 1664-? : Arthur Rose^[14]
• 1770–? : Alexander Fordyce^[15]
•  ?–1792 : William Fordyce^[16]
• 1809–? : William Grant^[17]
• 1820-1822: James Duff, 4th Earl Fife
• 1823-1824: James Duff, 4th Earl Fife
• 1824–1825 : Joseph Hume^[18]
• 1826–1827 : Sir James McGrigor^[19]
• 1831-1832: William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll
• 1835–? : John Abercrombie^[20]
• 1841–1843 : Sir James McGrigor^[19]
• 1843-1845: John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane
• 1845–1848 : Sir Archibald Alison
• 1848–1851 : Patrick Robertson, Lord Robertson^[21]
• 1851–1853 : Archibald Montgomerie^[22]
• 1853–1854 : George Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle^[23]
• 1854–1855 : William Henry Sykes^[24]
• 1855–1858 : Austen Henry Layard^[25]
• 1858-1859: Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope

Rector of the University of Aberdeen

• 1860–1863 : Edward Francis Maitland^[26]
• 1863–1866 : John Russell, 1st Earl Russell^[27]
• 1866–1872 : Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff
• 1872–1875 : Thomas Henry Huxley^[28]
• 1875–1878 : William Edward Forster
• 1878–1881 : Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
• 1881–? : Alexander Bain^[29][30]
• 188?–? : George Goschen^[31]
• 1890–? Alexander Bain^[32]
• 1890–1899 : Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly^[33]
• 1899–? : Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal^[34]
• 1902–1905 : Charles Ritchie^[35][36]
• 1905–1908 : Sir Frederick Treves^[37]
• 1908–1914 : H. H. Asquith^[38]
• 1914–1918 : Winston Churchill^[39][40]
• 1918–1921 : Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray^[41]
• 1921–1924 : Robert Horne^[42][43]
• 1924–1927 : Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood^[44]
• 1927–1930 : F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead
• 1930–1933 : Arthur Keith^[45]
• 1933–1936 : Walter Elliot^[46]
• 1936–1942 : Sir Edward Evans^[47]
• 1942–1945 : Sir Stafford Cripps^[48]
• 1945–1948 : Eric Linklater^[49]
• 1948–1951 : John Buchan, 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir^[50]
• 1951–1954 : Jimmy Edwards^[51][52]
• 1954–1957 : Rhoderick McGrigor^[53][54]
• 1957–1960 : John MacDonald Bannerman^[55]
• 1960–1963 : Peter Scott^[56]
• 1963–1966 : Sir John Hunt^[57]
• 1966–1969 : Frank George Thomson^[58]
• 1969–1972 : Jo Grimond^[59]
• 1972–1975 : Michael Barratt^[60]
• 1975–1978 : Iain Cuthbertson
• 1978–1981 : Sandy Gall^[61]
• 1981–1984 : Robert J. Perryment^[62]
• 1985–1988 : Hamish Watt
• 1988–1990 : Willis Pickard^[63]
• 1991–1993 : Colin Bell^[64]
• 1993–1996 : Ian Hamilton^[65]
• 1996–1998 : Allan Macartney (died whilst in office)
• 1998–2004 : Clarissa Dickson Wright^[66][67]
• 2005–2008 : Robin Harper^[68][69]
• 2008–2011 : Stephen Robertson^[70]
• 2012–2014 : Maitland Mackie

See also

• Aberdeen University Students' Association

References

External links

• Aberdeen University official information about the Rector