Rector of the University of Aberdeen

The Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and chairperson 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.

The position exists in common throughout the ancient universities of Scotland with rectorships also in existence at the universities of St Andrews, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The newer University of Dundee has a rector due to its historical ties to 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 Principal. Rectors also appoint a rector's assessor, who may carry out their functions when they are absent from the university.

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.

List of rectors

Rector of King's College, Aberdeen 1637–?: Arthur JohnstonNicola Royan, 'Johnston, Arthur (c.1579–1641)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/14934, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1639–1644: William GuildR. P. Wells, 'Guild, William (1586–1657)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/11720, accessed 9 Sept 2007. 1651–?: Andrew CantW. G. Blaikie, 'Cant, Andrew (1584/1590–1663)', rev. R. P. Wells, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/4563, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1677–1682: John Menzies 1805–1814: The 1st Baron GlenbervieRoland Thorne, 'Douglas, Sylvester, Baron Glenbervie (1743–1823)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/7918, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1827–1837: The 8th Viscount of ArbuthnottG.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume I, page 185. 1838–1857: Lord Francis Egerton,G. C. Boase, 'Egerton, Francis, first earl of Ellesmere (1800–1857)', rev. H. C. G. Matthew, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/8585, accessed 10 Sept 2007The Times, Friday, 10 Nov 1843; pg. 3; Issue 18451; col DM.P. 1857–?: John Inglis (who became Lord Glencorse in 1858)Gordon F. Millar, 'Inglis, John, Lord Glencorse (1810–1891)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/14403, accessed 10 Sept 2007

Rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen

1664–?: Rev. Dr Arthur RoseTristram Clarke, 'Ross, Arthur (1634–1704)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/24116, accessed 10 Sept 2007 1673–?: George MeldrumT. F. Henderson, 'Meldrum, George (1634?–1709)', rev. John Callow, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/18524, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1675–1678: No record 1679–: Patrick Sibbald 1687–1688: No record 1688–1691: Dr William Blair 1691–1713: No record 1714–1715: John Urquhart, Laird of Meldrum 1715–1719: No record 1720–1723: Sir William Forbes 1723–1726: Thomas Forbes 1726–1729: Patrick Duff 1729–: William Duff of Braco 1730–1731: No record 1732–: Sir Alexander Ramsay of Balmain 1733–1736: No record 1737–: George Skene 1746–1760: No record 1761–1764: Sir Arthur Forbes, 4th Baronet, of Craigievar 1764–1770: John Gray 1770–: Alexander FordyceJacob M. Price, 'Fordyce, Alexander (bap. 1729, d. 1789)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/9876, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1772–1781: No record 1782–1788: Cosmo Gordon of Cluny 1788–1790: Francis Garden of Gardenstown 1790–1792: Sir William FordyceG. T. Bettany, /Fordyce, Sir William (1724–1792)', rev. Caroline Overy, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/9880, accessed 9 Sept 2007] 1792 – 1794: Sir William Forbes, Bt, of Pitsligo 1794–1796: James Ferguson, M.P. 1796–1798: Alexander Allardyce of Dunnotar, M.P. 1798–1800: Sir Alexander Ramsay-Irvine of Balmain, 6th Baronet 1800–1802: Sir William Forbes, 5th Baronet of Craigievar 1802–1809: Alexander Baxter of Glassel 1809–1814: Sir William Grant, M.P., Master of the RollsD. R. Fisher, 'Grant, Sir William (1752–1832)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/11292, accessed 10 Sept 2007 1814–1819: Charles Forbes of Auchmedden, M.P. 1820–1822: The 4th Earl Fife 1822–1823: Charles Forbes of Auchmedden, M.P. 1823–1824: The 4th Earl Fife 1824–1826: Joseph Hume, M.P.V. E. Chancellor, 'Hume, Joseph (1777–1855)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/14148, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1826–1828: Sir James McGrigorH. M. Chichester, 'McGrigor, Sir James, first baronet (1771–1858)', rev. J. S. G. Blair, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/17525, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1828–1829: Joseph Hume, M.P. 1829–1830: No rector 1830–1831: Charles Forbes of Auchmedden, M.P. 1831–1832: The 18th Earl of Erroll 1832–1833: Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse, 8th Baronet 1833–1834: Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassie, Bt 1834–1836: Alexander Bannerman, M.P. 1836–1837: Dr John AbercrombieNick Hervey, 'Abercrombie, John (1780–1844)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/37, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1837–1838: John, Lord Lyndhurst 1838–1839: Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux 1839–1840: John Campbell Colquhoun of Killermont 1840–1841: Sir George Sinclair of Ulbster 1841–1842: Sir James McGrigor, 1st Baronet, 1842–1843: Sir John Herschel 1843–1845: The 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane 1845–1848: Archibald Alison, Sheriff of Lanarkshire 1848–1849: Lord RobertsonG. F. R. Barker, 'Robertson, Patrick, Lord Robertson (1794–1855)', rev. H. J. Spencer, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/23809, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1849–1851: John Thomson Gordon 1851–1853: The 13th Earl of EglintonMary S. Millar, 'Montgomerie, Archibald William, thirteenth earl of Eglinton and first earl of Winton (1812–1861)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/19057, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1853–1854: The 7th Earl of CarlisleIan Machin, 'Howard, George William Frederick, seventh earl of Carlisle (1802–1864)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/13902, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1854–1855: Colonel William Henry Sykes, M.P.B. B. Woodward, 'Sykes, William Henry (1790–1872)', rev. M. G. M. Jones, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/26871, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1855–1858: Austen Henry Layard, M.P.Jonathan Parry, 'Layard, Sir Austen Henry (1817–1894)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/16218, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1858–1859: The 5th Earl Stanhope

Rector of the University of Aberdeen 1860–1863: Edward Francis Maitland (became Lord Barcaple in 1862)Gordon F. Millar, 'Maitland, Edward Francis, Lord Barcaple (1808–1870)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/17821, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1863–1866: The 1st Earl Russell,The Times, Friday, 25 Dec 1863; pg. 7; Issue 24751; col B Prime Minister 1865-1866 1866–1872: M.E. Grant Duff, M.P., Under-Secretary of State for India 1868-1874 1872–1875: Thomas Henry HuxleyAdrian Desmond, 'Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825–1895)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2007 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/14320, accessed 10 Sept 2007 1875–1878: W.E. Forster, M.P. 1878–1881: The 5th Earl of Rosebery 1881–1884: Prof. Alexander BainThe Times, Wednesday, 31 Dec 1884; pg. 3; Issue 31331; col CGraham Richards, 'Bain, Alexander (1818–1903)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/30533, accessed 9 Sept 2007 1884–1887: Prof. Alexander BainConcise Dictionary of National Biography, 1992 1887–1890: George Goschen, M.P.The Times, Monday, 22 Oct 1888; pg. 8; Issue 32523; col B 1890–1899: The 11th Marquess of HuntlyObituary: The Marquess Of Huntly "Cock Of The North" The Times, Monday, 22 Feb 1937; pg. 19; Issue 47615; col C 1899–1902: The 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount RoyalThe Times, Monday, 6 Nov 1899; pg. 12; Issue 35979; col C 1902–1905: Charles Ritchie, M.P.,The Times, Tuesday, 6 Oct 1903; pg. 7; Issue 37204; col FThe Times, Monday, 13 Nov 1905; pg. 9; Issue 37863; col A Chancellor of the Exchequer 1902-1903 1905–1908: Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Bt. 1908–1911: H.H. Asquith, M.P.,The Times, Monday, 2 Nov 1908; pg. 11; Issue 38793; col A Prime Minister 1911–1914: Andrew Carnegie 1914–1918: Winston Churchill, M.P.,The Times, Saturday, 10 Nov 1917; pg. 3; Issue 41632; col FPaul Addison, 'Churchill, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer (1874–1965)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2007 http://0-www.oxforddnb.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk:80/view/article/32413, accessed 10 Sept 2007 First Lord of the Admiralty until May 1915. Thereafter, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until Nov. 1915. 1918–1921: The 1st Viscount CowdrayThe Times, Monday, 11 Nov 1918; pg. 4; Issue 41944; col G