The principal of the University of Aberdeen is the working administrative head of the university, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the overall running of the university, presiding over the main academic body of the university, the Senatus Academicus. The principal is normally also created Vice-Chancellor of the university, enabling him to perform the functions reserved to the Chancellor in the latter's absence, such as the awarding of degrees.
History
The present office of principal dates to 1858 with the passage of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858. The position was created with the amalgamation of the two existing ancient universities in Aberdeen, King's College (est. 1495) and Marischal College (est. 1593) in 1860, which had previously appointed their own individual principals. The installation is presided by the Chancellor of the university.
Professor Pete Edwards succeeded George Boyne as principal on 1 November 2025.
List of principals of the University of Aberdeen +PrincipalTerm of officeNotes1Peter Colin Campbell1865–1876 First principal of the newly merged university, died in post2William Robinson Pirie1876–1885Died in post3 Sir William Duguid Geddes1885–1900 Died in post4 John Marshall Lang1900–1909 Died in post5Sir George Adam Smith1909–19356Sir William Hamilton Fyfe1936–19487Sir Thomas Murray Taylor1948–1962Died in post8Sir Edward Maitland Wright1962–19769Sir Fraser Noble1976–1981 10George Paul McNicol1981–199111Maxwell Irvine1991–1996 12Sir Duncan Rice1996–201013 Sir Ian Diamond2010–201814 George Boyne2018–202515Peter Edwards2025–present
List of principals of former constituent colleges
Principals of King's College, Aberdeen
+PrincipalTerm of officeNotes1Hector Boece1500–15342Alexander Anderson<1561–1569 Principal from at least 1561, deposed in 15693Alexander Arbuthnot1569–1583Died in post4Reverend David Rait1598–1632Died in post5William Leslie1632–1640Expelled from post by covenanters.6William Guild1640–16517John Row1652–16618Alexander Middleton1662–16799George Middleton1689–171610George Chalmers1729–????11John Chalmers????–1800Held position for 'nearly threescore years', died in post12Roderick MacLeod1800–1815Previously sub-principal, died in post13William Jack1815–1854 Died in post; subsequently left unfilled due to impending merger
Principals of Marischal College +Source:PrincipalTerm of officeNotes1Robert Howie1593–1598Later principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews2Gilbert Gray1598–1614Died in post3David Wedderburn 1614–1615Possibly, interim4Andrew Adie1616–1620Forced to resign by town council5 William Forbes1620–1621Later the first Bishop of Edinburgh6Patrick Dun1621–1649Resigned7William Moir1649–1661Resigned8James Leslie1661–1678Died in post9Robert Paterson1678–1717Dismissed due to Jacobite sympathies10Thomas Blackwell (primus)1717–1728 Father of secundus, died in post11John Osborne1728–1748Died in post12Thomas Blackwell (secundus)1748–1757 Son of primus, died in post13Robert Pollock1757–1759Died in post14 George Campbell1759–1795Retired in 1795, died following year15 William Laurence Brown1796–1830Died in post16 Daniel Dewar1832–1860 Final principal of Marischal College before it merged with King's College, subsequently retired See also Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen Rector of the University of Aberdeen Ancient university governance in Scotland
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