List of University of Edinburgh people

This is a list of notable graduates as well as non-graduate former students, academic staff, and university officials of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. It also includes those who may be considered alumni by extension, having studied at institutions that later merged with the University of Edinburgh. The university is associated with 20 Nobel Prize laureates, three Turing Award winners, an Abel Prize laureate and Fields Medallist, four Pulitzer Prize winners, three Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, and several Olympic gold medallists.

Government and politics

Heads of state and government

United Kingdom

Cabinet and Party Leaders

Scottish Cabinet and Party Leaders

Current Members of the House of Commons

• Douglas Alexander, MP for Lothian East
• Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North
• Julia Buckley, MP for Shrewsbury
• Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife
• Charlie Dewhirst, MP for Bridlington and The Wolds
• Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East
• John Grady, MP for Glasgow East
• Chris Hinchliff, MP for North East Hertfordshire
• Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest
• Danny Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire
• Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington
• Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland
• Stuart McDonald, MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
• Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East
• Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North
• David Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
• Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South
• Louise Sandher-Jones, MP for North East Derbyshire
• Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and Kinross-shire
• Imogen Walker, MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley

Current Members of the House of Lords

• James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell, Conservative Peer
• Christine Blower, Baroness Blower, Labour Peer
• Kathryn Clark, Baroness Clark of Kilwinning, Labour Peer
• Lynda Clark, Baroness Clark of Calton, Labour Peer
• William Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk, Crossbench
• James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas, Conservative Peer
• Andrew Dunlop, Baron Dunlop, Conservative Peer
• Neil Davidson, Baron Davidson of Glen Clova, Labour Peer
• Ruth Davidson, Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links, Conservative Peer
• Murray Elder, Baron Elder, Labour Peer
• Peter Forster, Lord Spiritual
• George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock, Labour Peer
• Andrew Hardie, Baron Hardie, Crossbench
• David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead, Crossbench
• Richard Keen, Baron Keen of Elie, Conservative peer
• Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, Conservative Peer
• Eleanor Laing, Baroness Laing of Elderslie, Conservative Peer
• James Lindesay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay, Conservative Peer
• Donald Mackay, Baron Mackay of Drumadoon, Conservative peer
• James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern, Conservative Peer
• Mark McInnes, Baron McInnes of Kilwinning, Conservative Peer
• Anne McIntosh, Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, Conservative Peer
• Patrick McLoughlin, Baron McLoughlin, Conservative Peer
• Malcolm Offord, Baron Offord of Garvel, Conservative peer
• Adrian Palmer, 4th Baron Palmer, Crossbench
• Robert Reed, Baron Reed of Allermuir, Crossbench
• Nicol Stephen, Baron Stephen, Liberal Democrat Peer
• Keith Stewart, Baron Stewart of Dirleton, Conservative Peer
• Alexander Trees, Baron Trees, Crossbench
• Fiona Twycross, Baroness Twycross, Labour Peer
• Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, Liberal Democrat Peer
• John Woodcock, Baron Walney, Crossbench
• Clifton Wrottesley, 6th Baron Wrottesley, Conservative Peer

Current Members of the Scottish Parliament

• Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
• Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian
• Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland
• Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian
• Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland
• Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
• Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
• Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland
• Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston
• Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith
• Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney
• Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire
• Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
• Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
• Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin
• John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North
• Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian
• Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland

United States

Africa

• Joseph Ukel Abango, South Sudan Minister of General Education (2011–2013)
• Eustace Akwei, Ghanaian Minister for Health (1966–1969)
• Prince Hamid Armah, Ghanaian MP
• Ahmed Mohamed Adan, Somali Foreign Minister (1990-1991)
• Herbert Bankole-Bright, political activist in Sierra Leone
• Jaya Krishna Cuttaree, Mauritian Minister of Labour, Lands and Housing (1982–2000), Minister of Industry and Trade (2000–2005)
• Moses Da Rocha, Nigerian doctor, journalist and politician
• Yusuf Dadoo, former chair of the South African Indian Congress and the South African Communist Party
• Unity Dow, Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2019–2020), member of the National Assembly
• Patrick Duncan, 6th governor-general of the Union of South Africa, South African Minister for the Interior, Education and Public Health (1921–1924)
• Kesaveloo Goonam, South African doctor, Indian nationalist and anti-apartheid activist
• Alex Ibru, Nigerian Minister of Internal Affairs (1993–1995)
• Omar Ali Juma, former vice-president of Tanzania
• Danielle de St. Jorre, Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs (1989–1997)
• Vedastus Kyalakishaija Kyaruzi, former Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations
• Nazir Karamagi, Tanzanian Minister of Energy and Minerals (2006–2008)
• Nelson P. W. Khonje, Speaker of the National Assembly of Malawi (1975–1987)
• Peter Msolla, Tanzanian MP
• Shettima Ali Monguno, Nigerian Federal Minister for Airforce and Internal Affairs (1965–1966), Minister for Mines, Power, Petroleum and Energy (1972–1975), President of OPEC (1972–1973)
• James Moroka, President of the African National Congress (1949–1952)
• Agnes Nyalonje, Malawi Minister of Education (2020–)
• Monty Naicker, anti-apartheid activist and leader of the South African Indian Congress
• Frederick Nanka-Bruce, Ghanaian doctor, journalist and former member of the Ghanaian Parliament
• Bandele Omoniyi, Nigerian law student and political activist
• Betty Ogwaro, South Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (2011–2014; 2014–2015; 2016–2019)
• Sam Ongeri, Kenyan Minister for Education (2008–2012), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2012–2013)
• Imrana Alhaji Buba, Nigerian social entrepreneur and political activist
• Hae Phoofolo, interim prime minister of Lesotho
• Benjamin Quartey-Papafio, first Ghanaian doctor and member of the Gold Coast Legislative Council
• John K Randle, West African doctor and politician
• Richard Sezibera, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs (2018–2019), 4th Secretary-General of the East African Community (2011–2016)
• Richard Akinwande Savage, Nigerian doctor, pan-African politician and newspaper editor
• Noah Wekesa, Kenyan Minister for Forestry and Wildlife (2008–2012), Minister for Education (2007), and Minister for Science (2005–2007)

Asia

• Harini Amarasuriya, Sri Lankan MP
• Chu Anping, Chinese journalist and political activist
• Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, Indian nationalist, President of the Indian National Congress (1927–1928)
• Kōichirō Asakai, Japanese ambassador to the United States and ambassador to the Philippines who oversaw the signing of U.S.-Japan Security Treaty
• Lalith Athulathmudali, Sri Lankan Minister of Trade and Shipping (1977–1984)
• Fu Ssu-nien, linguist and historian, one of the leaders of the Chinese May Fourth Movement in 1919
• Hsu Hsin-liang, Chairman of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (1992-1993 and 1996–1998) and Magistrate of Taoyuan (1977–1979)
• Sir Reginald Johnston, Puyi's tutor and advisor, last Commissioner of British Weihaiwei
• Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (2005–2015)
• M. C. M. Kaleel, Sri Lankan Minister of Home Affairs (1960)
• Arbab Alamgir Khan, Pakistan Federal Minister for Communications (2012–2013)
• Lim Chong Eu, 2nd Chief Minister of Penang (1969–1990) and founder of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
• Zhang Shizhao, Chinese journalist, educator and Minister of Justice (1924–1925) and Minister of Education (1925)
• Wu Zhihui, Chinese linguist and major political figure during the Republic of China (1912–1949)
• Hsiao Chia-chi, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan, former Deputy Mayor of Taichung

Canada

• William Johnston Almon, former Canadian senator for Halifax
• Peter Boehm, Canadian senator for Ontario
• Edward Borron, former MP for Algoma
• Christy Clark, 35th Premier of British Columbia
• George Ralph Richardson Cockburn, former MP for Toronto Centre
• George Alexander Drummond, former Canadian senator for Quebec, 12th president of the Bank of Montreal
• Kirsty Duncan, MP for Etobicoke North, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2019-), Minister for Science (2015–2019)
• Adelbert Edward Hanna, former MP for Lanark South
• Robert James Manion, Canadian cabinet minister, Conservative Leader of the Opposition 1938–1940
• Joseph Morrin, 7th and 9th mayor of Quebec
• Sir William MacGregor, 60th governor of Newfoundland
• Frederick Montizambert, first Director General of Public Health in Canada
• Andrew Ross McMaster, former MP for Brome and Provincial Treasurer of Quebec
• Clarence Primrose, former Canadian senator for Nova Scotia
• James Palmer Rankin, former Canadian senator for Ontario
• Alexander David Stewart, former mayor of Hamilton, Ontario
• Alexander Warburton, 7th Premier of Prince Edward Island
• Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams, former MP and Chief Government Whip

Caribbean

• John Alcindor, Trinidadian doctor and politician
• Charles Duncan O'Neal, Barbados politician
• Edgar F. Gordon, doctor and trade union leader in Bermuda
• David Pitt, Baron Pitt of Hampstead, Grenadian politician, first person of African descent to stand as an MP (in Britain), second person of African descent to sit in the House of Lords

Europe

• Mina Andreeva, Chief Spokesperson for the European Commission
• Gisela Babel, former member of the German Bundestag
• Elmar Brok, former MEP for Germany, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (1999–2007; 2012–2017) and President of the Union of European Federalists (2013–2018)
• Rebecca Buttigieg, Maltese MP
• Benjamin Constant, French politician and eminent political theorist, Member of the Tribunat (1799–1802), Member of the Council of State (1815), Member of the Chamber of Députés (1819–1830)
• Muriel Casals i Couturier, member of the Parliament of Catalonia
• Katja Dörner, Mayoress of Bonn, Germany
• Tedi Dobi, Albanian Minister of Justice (2024-)
• Biljana Đorđević, member of the Serbian National Assembly
• Aina Calvo, former Mayoress of Palma, Spain
• Furio Honsell, former mayor of Udine, Italy
• Giorgos Gerapetritis, Greek Minister of State (2019–2023), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2023–)
• Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, Icelandic Minister of Finance (1987–1988), Foreign Minister (1988–1995)
• Harri Jaskari, former member of the Parliament of Finland
• Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Icelandic Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources (2024-)
• Ögmundur Jónasson, Icelandic Minister of Health (2009) and Minister of the Interior (2011–2013)
• Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, 19th Mayor of Reykjavík, Icelandic Minister of the Interior (2013–2014)
• Árni Mathiesen, Icelandic Minister of Finance (2005–2009)
• Radu Marian, Moldovian MP
• Angelika Niebler, MEP for Germany, Deputy Chairwoman of European People's Party (2015–)
• Theodoros Roussopoulos, Greek Minister of State (2004–2008), President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (2024-)
• Gerhard Schröder (CDU), West German Federal Minister of the Interior (1953–1961), Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs (1961–1966), and Federal Minister of Defence (1966–1969), 1969 presidential candidate
• Gustaf Algernon Stierneld, Swedish Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs (1838–1840; 1848–1856)
• Péter Ungár, Member of the National Assembly of Hungary, Leader of LMP – Hungary's Green Party (2022-)
• Jerzy Å»yżyński, economist and member of the Polish Sejm

Middle East

• Najah al-Attar, former vice president of Syria
• Lamis al-Alami, Palestinian Minister of Education (2007–2013)
• Mehmet Aydın, Turkish Minister of State (2002–)
• Hovhannes Bujicanian, Armenian teacher in the Ottoman Empire
• Saad bin Khalid Al Jabri, Saudi Arabian Minister of State
• Yahya bin Mahfoudh al-Mantheri, Omani Chairman of Council of State (2004–2020)
• Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs (2001–2014; 2016)
• Bassam Talhouni, Jordanian Minister for Justice (2013–2016)
• Hikmat Abu Zayd, first female cabinet minister of Egypt

Oceania

• Richard Arthur, New South Wales Minister for Public Health (1927–1930)
• Sir John Bowser, 26th Premier of Victoria
• Sir Thomas Brisbane, former governor of New South Wales whose name gave rise to the Australian city, Brisbane
• Francis Bugotu, Permanent Representative of the Solomon Islands to the United Nations (1978–1992), Secretary-General of the Pacific Community (1982–1986)
• Cyril Cameron, former Australian senator for Tasmania
• Sir John Logan Campbell, 17th Mayor of Auckland
• Sir Michael Cullen, former deputy prime minister of New Zealand
• John Dedman, Australian Minister for War Organisation (1941-1945), Minister for Defence (1946-1949)
• John Garland, New South Wales Minister for Justice (1909–1910; 1916–1919)
• Sir James Graham, 41st Mayor of Sydney
• Sir William MacGregor, 11th governor of Queensland
• Malcolm Mackay, Australian Minister for the Navy (1971–1972)
• John Alexander MacPherson, 7th Premier of Victoria
• Andrew McLachlan, Australian senator for South Australia, Deputy President of the Australian Senate (2022-)
• F. Russell Miller, 40th Mayor of Invercargill, New Zealand
• Sir David Monro, 2nd Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
• Sir Hugh Nelson, 11th Premier of Queensland
• Carty Salmon, 2nd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
• David Seath, New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs (1963–1972)
• Sir Alexander Stuart, 9th Premier of New South Wales
• Henry Thacker, 32nd Mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand

Royalty

• Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince Father, founder of the House of Mahidol, father to Thai King Rama VIII and King Rama IX
• Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, head of the House of Thurn and Taxis
• Countess Alexandra Nikolaevna Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, member of the Tolstoy family
• Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll
• David Carnegie, 4th Duke of Fife
• Charles Carnegie, Earl of Southesk, heir apparent to the Dukedom of Fife
• Samuel Chatto and Arthur Chatto, sons of Elizabeth II's niece Lady Sarah Chatto
• Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India
• George Percy, Earl Percy, heir apparent to the Dukedom of Northumberland
• Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton, direct male-line descendant of Charles II of England
• Lady Amelia Windsor, a relative of the British royal family
• Margareta of Romania, Custodian of the Crown of Romania
• Lady Marina Windsor, a relative of the British royal family
• Mako Komuro, former member of the Imperial House of Japan
• Princess Nora zu Oettingen–Spielberg, member of the House of Oettingen-Spielberg
• Princess Raiyah bint Hussein, member of the House of Hashim
• Princess Salha bint Asem, member of the House of Hashim
• Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, member of the Imperial House of Japan
• Prince Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov, Russian aristocrat
• Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, heir apparent to the Spencer earldom and first cousin of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry
• Bhagvat Singh, former maharaja of the princely state of Gondal

Judges and lawyers

Military

Officers

• Ralph Abercromby, MP, Commander-in-Chief, Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1798
• Sir Archibald Alison, 2nd Baronet, general
• Sir James Baird, lieutenant general, Director General Army Medical Services (1973–1977)
• Sir Hugh Beach, general, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Field Army (1976–1977)
• Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Naval flag officer during the Napoleonic Wars and later Admiral of the Red, dubbed by Napoleon as le Loup des Mers, 'the Sea Wolf'
• David Coulter, major-general, Chaplain General of the British Army (2014–2018)
• Robert Craigie, admiral
• Sir Hew Whitefoord Dalrymple, general, Governor of Gibraltar (1806–1808)
• John Forbes, brigadier-general, commanded the Forbes Expedition during the French-Indian war
• Sir Alexander Hood, lieutenant-general, Director General Army Medical Services (1941–1948), Governor of Bermuda (1949–1955)
• John Hunter, vice-admiral of the red, governor of New South Wales (1795–1800)
• James Francis Edward Keith, Scottish Jacobite, served during the Seven Years' War under Frederick the Great as Generalfeldmarschall of the Prussian Army
• Daniel Knobel, lieutenant general, Surgeon General of the South African Defence Force (1988–1997)
• William Thompson Lusk, Assistant adjutant-general for the Union, American Civil War
• Gregor MacGregor, Army general, adventurer, and confidence trickster, known for his "Poyois scheme"
• Sir George Malcolm, general
• Sir Harold Martin, air marshal, Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany (1970–1973)
• Sir Ian McGeoch, vice-admiral
• Sir James McGrigor, responsible for the creation of the Royal Army Medical Corps
• Iain McNicoll, air marshal, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Operations, RAF Air Command (2007–2010)
• Sir Charles Napier, admiral, served in War of 1812, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Crimean War
• Dame Sharon Nesmith, first woman to command a British Army brigade, general and vice-chief of the General Staff (2024–)
• Arthur Edward Potts, major general, Commander of 6th Canadian Infantry Division (1942–1943)
• Philip Raffaelli, Surgeon-General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces (2009–2012)
• George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, governor of Canada (1820–1828), Commander-in-Chief, India (1830–1832)
• Alan Reay, lieutenant general, Director General Army Medical Services (1981–1984)
• Thomas Rimmer, air vice-marshal, commander, British Forces Cyprus (2000–2003)
• Sir James Simpson, general, Commander-in-Chief British troops in the Crimea (1855)
• Andrew Rutherford, 1st Earl of Teviot, lieutenant-general under Louis XIV when England was in Interregnum, governor of Tangier (1663–1664)
• Sir Charles Shaw, brigadier-general during the Portuguese Liberal Wars
• Adam Stephen, Scottish-American general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
• James Stuart, general, 1st General Officer Commanding, Ceylon (1796)
• Mona Chalmers Watson, head of Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
• Bennett H. Young, lieutenant, Confederate officer who led the St. Albans Raid during the American Civil War

Soldiers

• Eric Brown, Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history
• William Brydon, the only person to reach safety in the 1842 retreat from Kabul
• James Marr Brydone, Ship's surgeon of HMS Thunderer at Battle of Trafalgar
• Charles Gray Catto, World War I flying ace, later Mayor of Waco, Texas
• Gordon Duncan, Scottish flying ace
• James Oliver Ewart, intelligence officer, translator, and staff member of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery
• John Todd, Scottish First World War flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories

Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients

Recipients of the Victoria Cross:

• Crimean War
• William Henry Thomas Sylvester, major
• Indian Mutiny
• James John McLeod Innes, lieutenant general
• Valentine McMaster, Army surgeon
• Andaman Islands expedition
• Campbell Mellis Douglas, lieutenant Colonel
• Second Boer War
• Sir William Babtie, Lieutenant-general
• Henry Edward Manning Douglas, major-general
• First World War
• Allan Ker, major
• Arthur Moore Lascelles, captain
• David Lowe MacIntyre, captain
• Harcus Strachan, lieutenant colonel

Recipients of the George Cross:

• Second World War
• Douglas Ford, captain
• John Fraser, major
• Sandy Hodge, captain
• Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, bomb disposal expert

Natural sciences, engineering and medicine

Astronomy

Chemistry

Geology

Computer science and informatics

Senior academic staff

Former staff and alumni

Engineering

Mathematics and physics

Medicine and biology

Social sciences, arts and business

Pulitzer Prize

• Ross Anderson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1990
• Andrew Marshall, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 2014
• Jack N. Rakove, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1997
• Garry Wills, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1993

Architecture

Business

Economics

Literature

Media and the arts

Music

History, philosophy, anthropology, sociology and theology

Members of the Science Studies Unit (Edinburgh School)

• S. Barry Barnes, philosopher and sociologist of science
• David Bloor, philosopher, sociologist of science, and key figure in the Edinburgh school
• Martin Kusch, philosopher of science
• Steven Shapin, sociologist and philosopher of science, early founder on Sociology of scientific knowledge (STS)
• Robin Williams, developer of the concept of social shaping of technology (SST)
• Donald MacKenzie, sociologist

Others

Sports

Miscellaneous

University officials and faculty

• Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby, former rector of the university (1935–1936)
• Anne, Princess Royal, chancellor of the university (2011–present)
• Sir Edward Victor Appleton, former principal and vice-chancellor of the university (1949–1965)
• Stanley Baldwin, former rector of the university (1923–1926)
• Arthur Balfour, former chancellor of the university (1891–1930)
• Earl Beatty, former rector of the university (1917–1920)
• Gordon Brown, former rector of the university (1972–1975)
• Sir Winston Churchill, former rector of the university (1929–1932)
• Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, rector of the university (1945–1948)
• Sir Alexander Fleming, former rector of the university (1951–1953)
• David Lloyd George, former rector of the university (1920–1923)
• William Gladstone, former rector of the university (1859–1865)
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, former chancellor of the university (1953–2010)
• The Earl of Rosebery, former rector of the university (1880–1883)

Faculty

Colin Kingsley, lecturer on music

See also

• List of Nobel laureates affiliated with the University of Edinburgh

Notes

References