Rector of the University of St Andrews facts for kids

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The lord rector of the University of St Andrews is an important leader chosen by students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. The rector usually acts as the chairperson of the University Court, which is the main governing group that makes big choices for the school.

Understanding the Role of the University Rector

John Stuart Mill, former rector and Member of Parliament

Every three years, the registered students get to vote for their rector. This custom became a law through the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The law says students at the ancient universities of Scotland must have an elected leader to speak for them. Besides St Andrews, other ancient schools with rectors are Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The University of Dundee also chooses a rector because it was once connected to St Andrews.

The rector listens to students and makes sure their ideas reach university managers. Since 1970, the rector also picks a student helper, known as an assessor. This helper serves with the students' representative council and votes on the university court.

Famous People Chosen as Rector

Many well-known authors, politicians, and scientists have been chosen as rector over the years.

• Sir Ralph Anstruther was the very first rector under the 1858 law, serving alongside leaders like William Stirling-Maxwell.
• Famous thinkers like John Stuart Mill and historian J.A. Froude held the position in the 1860s.
• Other Victorian leaders included Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves, church scholar Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, and law expert Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne.
• Writer Sir Theodore Martin, politician Donald Mackay, 11th Lord Reay, and prime minister A.J. Balfour served later.
• Diplomats like Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and the 3rd Marquess of Bute held the post.
• Scientist James Stuart served before wealthy builder Andrew Carnegie and science writer John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury.
• British prime minister Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery and governor John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair led before World War I.
• Military Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig and Peter Pan author Sir James M. Barrie served soon after.
• Beloved The Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling and Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen held the role in the 1920s.
• Doctor Sir Wilfred Grenfell and leader Jan Smuts served before radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi.
• Later leaders included Lord MacGregor Mitchell, medical chief Sir David Munro, and colonial leader Sir George Cunningham.
• Olympic champion David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, peer David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford, and judge David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir served in the 1950s.
• Politician Robert Boothby, Baron Boothby, novelist C. P. Snow, and art museum director John Rothenstein followed.
• Famous cricket player Sir Learie Nicholas Constantine was elected in 1967.
• Comedy superstar John Cleese, writer Alan Coren, humorist Frank Muir, and actor Tim Brooke-Taylor added fun to the job.
• Journalist Katharine Whitehorn, rights campaigner Stanley Adams, and game show host Nicholas Parsons served in the 1980s.
• Broadcasters Nicky Campbell, lawyer Donald Findlay, and television presenter Andrew Neil held the role.
• Broadcaster Clement Freud, nature protector Simon Pepper, and information leader Kevin Dunion served in the 2000s.
• Writer Alistair Moffat, politician Catherine Stihler, activist Srđa Popović, and campaigner Leyla Hussein held the post recently.
• Activist Stella Maris was elected in 2023.

See also

• Ancient university governance in Scotland
• Governance of the University of St Andrews
• Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
• Principal of the University of St Andrews