List of alumni of the University of Oxford facts for kids
The University of Oxford is one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world. It's located in England and has been teaching students for hundreds of years. Many amazing people have studied there before becoming famous actors, writers, scientists, and even leaders of countries. This article will tell you about some of these incredible individuals who once walked the halls of Oxford!
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Famous People from Oxford
Oxford University has a long history of educating people who go on to achieve great things. Here are some of the well-known alumni, meaning former students, who studied there.
Actors and Entertainers
Some of the most recognizable faces from movies and TV shows got their start studying at Oxford.
Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson is a British actor and comedian. He is most famous for his funny characters like Mr. Bean and Blackadder. He studied Electrical Engineering at The Queen's College, Oxford. His unique humor has made people laugh all over the world.
Richard Burton
Richard Burton was a very famous Welsh actor. He was known for his powerful voice and amazing acting in many films and plays. He studied for a short time at Exeter College, Oxford, before becoming a huge star on stage and screen.
Michael Palin
Michael Palin is a British comedian, actor, writer, and traveler. He is best known as a member of the comedy group Monty Python. He studied History at Brasenose College, Oxford. After his comedy career, he became famous for making travel documentaries, exploring different parts of the world.
Louis Theroux
Louis Theroux is a British-American documentary filmmaker and journalist. He is known for his unique style of interviewing people and exploring unusual topics. He studied History at Magdalen College, Oxford. His documentaries often show different sides of human nature and society.
Writers and Thinkers
Oxford has been a home for many brilliant writers and thinkers who have shaped literature and ideas.
Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He was an English writer, mathematician, and photographer. He is most famous for writing the classic children's books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. He studied and later taught Mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford. His stories are still loved by children and adults today.
William Golding
William Golding was a British novelist and poet. He is best known for his famous novel Lord of the Flies, which tells the story of a group of British boys stranded on an uninhabited island. He studied English Literature at Brasenose College, Oxford. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983 for his powerful stories.
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish writer and satirist. He is most famous for his book Gulliver's Travels, which is a fantasy adventure story that also makes fun of society. He studied at Hertford College, Oxford. His writings are still read and discussed today for their cleverness and wit.
Scientists and Inventors
Oxford has also produced brilliant minds who have made important discoveries and inventions.
Tim Berners-Lee
Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist. He is most famous for inventing the World Wide Web in 1989. This invention changed how we access information and connect with each other online. He studied Physics at The Queen's College, Oxford. His work made the internet what it is today.
Henry Moseley
Henry Moseley was a British physicist. He made very important contributions to our understanding of the atom and the periodic table of elements. He studied Physics at Trinity College, Oxford. His work helped scientists organize and understand all the different elements in the universe.
Leaders and Politicians
Many people who have led countries and shaped politics around the world have studied at Oxford.
Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee was a British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951. He was a member of the Labour Party. He studied History at University College, Oxford. His government created the National Health Service (NHS), which provides healthcare for everyone in the UK.
Tony Blair
Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. He was also a leader of the Labour Party. He studied Law at St John's College, Oxford. He is one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers in recent British history.
David Cameron
David Cameron was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. He was the leader of the Conservative Party. He studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He studied at University College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. He was known for his efforts to improve the economy and promote peace.
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984. She was a very powerful and influential leader in India. She studied at Somerville College, Oxford. She was the first and only female Prime Minister of India.
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone was a British statesman who served as Prime Minister four times between 1868 and 1894. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford. He was a very important figure in Victorian British politics.
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022. He was also the Mayor of London before becoming Prime Minister. He studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford.
Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan is an American lawyer and judge. She serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She studied History at Worcester College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. She is one of the nine judges on the highest court in the U.S.
Theresa May
Theresa May was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019. She was the leader of the Conservative Party. She studied Geography at St Hugh's College, Oxford. She was the second female Prime Minister of the UK.
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 2015 to 2018. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. He studied Law at Brasenose College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar.
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand, serving from 2008 to 2011. He was the leader of the Democrat Party. He studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at St John's College, Oxford.
Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976. He was a leader of the Labour Party. He studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Jesus College, Oxford.