Jesus College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth I at the request of Hugh Price, a Welsh clergyman, who was Treasurer of St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. The college still has strong links with Wales, and about 15% of students are Welsh. There are 340 undergraduates and 190 students carrying out postgraduate studies. Women have been admitted since 1974, when the college was one of the first five men's colleges to become co-educational. Old members of Jesus College are sometimes known as "Jesubites".

Harold Wilson studied at Jesus College from 1934 to 1937, and was later the prime minister of the United Kingdom during two periods (from October 1964 to June 1970, and from March 1974 to April 1976). More than 30 other Members of Parliament (MPs) have been educated at the college, from Sir John Salusbury who was elected as MP for Denbighshire in 1601 to Theresa Villiers who was elected as MP for Chipping Barnet in 2005. Sir Leoline Jenkins, who became a Fellow and later the Principal of the college, was Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1680 to 1681 and Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1681 to 1685. Sir William Williams served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1680 to 1685 and as Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1687 to 1689. Evan Cotton was MP for Finsbury East before holding the position of President of the Bengal Legislative Council from 1922 to 1925. Several Welsh politicians have been educated at the college, some representing constituencies in Wales (such as Sir John Wogan, representing Pembrokeshire at various times between 1614 and 1644) and others working outside Parliament, such as D. J. Williams, a co-founder of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru.

Other students at the college have subsequently held political offices in other countries. Norman Manley was Chief Minister of Jamaica from 1955 to 1962. P. T. Rajan was Chief Minister of Madras Presidency between April and August 1936. Heather Wilson was the first Old Member of the college to sit in the United States House of Representatives, where she represented New Mexico's 1st congressional district from 1998 to 2009. The Australian politician Neal Blewett was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1977 to 1994, a Government Minister from 1983 to 1994 and High Commissioner to the UK from 1994 to 1998. Pixley ka Isaka Seme, who studied for a BCL between 1906 and 1909, was one of the founder members of the African National Congress.

Several prominent judges and lawyers were educated at the college. Viscount Sankey, who was Lord Chancellor from 1929 to 1935, studied for a BA in History and BCL between 1885 and 1891. Lord du Parcq was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 1946. Sir Richard Richards became Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1817. The Scottish MP and lawyer Lord Murray was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice in 1979. The solicitor Sir David Lewis was Lord Mayor of the City of London from 2007 to 2008. Other lawyers who studied at the college include James Chadwin QC, who defended the Yorkshire Ripper, and Sir Arthur James, who prosecuted the Great Train Robbers and later became a judge of the Court of Appeal. Academic lawyers include J Duncan M Derrett, Professor of Oriental Laws in the University of London from 1965 to 1982, and Alfred Hazel, Reader in English Law at All Souls College, Oxford.

Alumni Abbreviations used in the following tables M – Year of matriculation at Jesus College (a dash indicates that the individual did not matriculate at the college) G – Year of graduation / conclusion of study at Jesus College (a dash indicates that the individual graduated from another college) DNG – Did not graduate: left the college without taking a degree ? – Year unknown; an approximate year is used for table-sorting purposes. (F/P) after name – later became a Fellow or Principal of Jesus College, and included on the list of Principals and Fellows (HF) after name – later became an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, and included on the list of Honorary Fellows

Degree abbreviations Undergraduate degree: BA – Bachelor of Arts Postgraduate degrees: BCL – Bachelor of Civil Law MA – Master of Arts MPhil – Master of Philosophy DCL – Doctor of Civil Law DPhil – Doctor of Philosophy

The subject studied and the degree classification are included, where known. Until the early 19th century, undergraduates read for a Bachelor of Arts degree that included study of Latin and Greek texts, mathematics, geometry, philosophy and theology. Individual subjects at undergraduate level were only introduced later: for example, Mathematics (1805), Natural Science (1850), Jurisprudence (1851, although it had been available before this to students who obtained special permission), Modern History (1851) and Theology (1871). Geography and Modern Languages were introduced in the 20th century. Music had been available as a specialist subject before these changes; medicine was studied as a post-graduate subject.

Politicians from England and Wales

NameMGDegreeNotesRef1668DNG–MP for Brackley (1698–1700)1698DNG–MP for Cardiff (1706–1710)17691773MA (1773), DCL (1810)MP for Anglesey (1774–1784); donated the copy of Guido Reni's St Michael subduing the Devil hanging in the college chapelBA History and Politics (2013)MP for West Bromwich (2024–present)18871892BA Modern History (2nd, 1891), BA Jurisprudence (2nd, 1892) (2nd in Classics Honour Mods, 1889)Liberal MP for Finsbury East (1918), President of the Bengal Legislative Council (1922–1925)Oxford MenHonours, sub nom.19191925BA Literae Humaniores (1st, 1923), BA Theology (1st, 1925)Welsh theologian and chairman of Plaid Cymru (1939–1943)19851988BA PPE (1st)President of the Jesus College JCR; became Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton (1997 to date); appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2012. Since 2020 he has been the leader of the Liberal Democrats. 19781982BA PPEPresident of the Jesus College JCR; became Labour MP for Croydon Central (1997–2005)19481951BA PPE (2nd)Labour MP for Kensington North (1970–1974) and Mitcham and Morden (1974–1982); joined the SDP, but lost his seat at the by-election following his change of partyWho Was Who, sub nom.18721875Pass degreeLiberal MP for Radnorshire (1892–1895, 1900 – January 1910 and December 1910 – 1918)Baker, 691628DNG–Welsh judge who was MP for Caernarfon (1647–1648), Anglesey (1654–1655), Swansea (1659) and St Albans (1660)19711974BA Modern History (3rd)Conservative MP for Harborough (1992–2017), Solicitor General (2010–2012)Oxford University Calendar 1974–1975, p. 35016541656BAMP for Caernarfon in the Third Protectorate Parliament19571960BA Modern History (2nd)Labour MP for Cardiff North (1974–1983), then MP for Cardiff Central (1983–1992) (F/P)1641DNG–Studies interrupted by the English Civil War, but awarded DCL in 1661; a lawyer and diplomat who served as Secretary of State (1680–1684)Baker, 15Delyth Jewell??M.St. Celtic studiesDeputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health since 2026, Plaid Cymru MS for Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni1766?1766??MP for Cardigan, Radnorshire and Cardiganshire in succession between 1775 and 1816; Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire (1800–1816)1638DNG–MP for Wenlock in the Short and Long Parliaments (1661–1679), then MP for East Grinstead (1679) and Yarmouth (1681)1679DNG–MP for Cardigan boroughs (1698–1701), High Sheriff of Cardiganshire (1690) and High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire (1716)1738DNG–MP for Cardigan boroughs (1761–1768)1692?1695??MP for Pembroke (1702–1708) and Cardigan (1710–1712); later a judge in Anglesey19511954BA PPE (2nd)Former leader of the Labour Group on the Greater London Council; Deputy Government Chief Whip (1997–2003)Who's Who, sub nom.1690DNG–MP who represented Flintshire, Flint and Cheshire between 1701 and 17341586DNG–Welsh writer; MP for Haverfordwest in the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I16101613??High Sheriff of Cardiganshire in 1649; MP representing Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Boroughs between 1653 and 16611707DNG–High Sheriff of Merionethshire and High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire18541859BALiberal MP for Cardiganshire (1886–1895)BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2013)1581DNG–MP for Denbighshire in 1601; also wrote sonnets and love lyrics–1642DCLMP for Denbighshire in the Short Parliament of 1640; awarded an honorary DCL by King Charles I during the English Civil War (HF)19191923BA Physiology (2nd)Labour MP for Preston (1945–1950) and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords (1973–1982) (HF)19381946 BA JurisprudenceStudies interrupted by World War II, when he served in the RAF and was a prisoner of war; then Conservative MP for Conwy (1951–1966) and Hendon South (1970–1987), and Secretary of State for Wales (1970–1974)19551958BA PPE (3rd)Labour MP for Cleveland (1964–1974) and for Redcar (1974–1987)1592DNG–Comptroller to the household of Prince Charles (later King Charles I) and MP for Carmarthenshire; brother of William Vaughan, who also attended the college19901991BCLConservative MEP for London (1999–2005), MP for Chipping Barnet (2005–2024), Minister of State for Transport (2010–2012), Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (2012–2016) and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2019–2020)1607DNG–High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire, MP for Southwark (1640–1645)19631969BA Chemistry (1st), DPhilLabour MP for Carmarthen (1987–1997) and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (1997–2001)1610DNG–MP for Monmouthshire 1620–1621 and 1640–164119161918BA English (4th)Welsh nationalist and writer; one of the founders of Plaid Cymru in 1925; his thesis was "The nature of literary creation"1712DNG–MP for Anglesey (1725–1734), grandson of Sir William Williams1650DNG–MP for Chester (1670–1685), Speaker of the House of Commons (1680–1685) and Solicitor General (1687–89); grandfather of Hugh Williams1710DNG–Welsh politician and prominent Jacobite who was said to have had "a record of idleness and extravagance" at College; awarded an honorary DCL in 1732 and presented a punch bowl to College to commemorate this (HF)19341937BA PPE (1st)Awarded pre-entry scholarship to read Modern History but changed degree subject; twice served as British prime minister (October 1964 – June 1970 and March 1974 – April 1976)Baker, 1331607DNG–MP for Pembrokeshire in the 17th century1663DNG–High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire (1672)1820DNG–MP for Merioneth (1852–1865), High Sheriff of Merionethshire (1867)

Politicians in other countries