Famous Oxford Alumni Throughout History
The University of Oxford, located in Oxford, England, has been a centre of scholarship since the 11th century, although nobody knows exactly when the university was founded. Early indications of learning date back as far as 1096, making it the oldest existing English-speaking university.
There are 39 colleges within the University of Oxford, each with its own distinctive character and world-renowned reputation. Christ Church College is the largest college, with the smallest one being Corpus Christi College.
Oxford has maintained a consecutive lead in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings since 2016. According to THE, Oxford also holds the lead in clinical and health and computer science. The same institution ranks them in the top 5 for courses such as art and humanities, business and economics, social sciences, life sciences, engineering and technology, arts and humanities, law, and education.
Given the University of Oxford’s standing in the world of education, it’s no wonder that so many famous people have studied under the dreaming spires of Oxford.
Top 10 Famous Oxford Alumni
As one of the most prestigious universities globally, Oxford has some of the most famous alumni (Oxonians) throughout history. From politicians, including 28 UK prime ministers, to scientists including 72 Nobel Prize laureates, to Olympic medalists and authors, these individuals have made a significant impact on society and continue to do so. Here is a look at some of the most notable Oxford alumni and what they have accomplished.
1. Adam Smith
Adam Smith, also known as the father of Economics, studied Moral Philosophy at Balliol College from 1740-1746 before publishing The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. The eighteenth-century Scottish political economist and moral philosopher is now known as one of modern history’s most significant economic thinkers.
Adam Smith was prominently one of the earliest proponents of free trade, the idea of laissez-faire economic policies, and the division of labour. He was also a key figure in providing insight into how capitalism functions.
His work also made him a pivotal figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. As a moral philosopher, Adam Smith is best known for writing The Theory of Moral Sentiments. He argues that our moral actions result from our natural desire to sympathise with others, thus creating our morality system.
2. Tony Blair
The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is an alumnus from St John’s College. He studied Law at the university between 1972 and 1975. He went on to join politics in the early ‘80s after standing for election in Beaconsfield (which he lost). In 1983, Blair was elected to Parliament as a party candidate.
At the end of 1997, Tony Blair became Prime Minister and held that office till June 2007. The government under Blair saw significant changes to both foreign policy and domestic affairs, including constitutional reform such as creating devolved governments for Scotland and Wales. Blair was also pivotal in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that brought peace to Northern Ireland after years of violence.
The Prime minister was also a strong advocate for human rights and pushed for international action on climate change and global poverty. He was also instrumental in piloting major reforms to the UK’s education and health systems while in office.
Blair’s legacy is highly controversial, mainly due to his backing of the Iraq invasion and the Afghanistan War. But, there is no doubt that he made a significant impact on British politics and international relations during his time in office.
3. Indira Gandhi
The former, considerably recognised Prime Minister of India is another famous figure who obtained her education at Somerville College. Indira Gandhi attended the prestigious Oxford University in 1937 and studied Modern History. She is best known for her significant contributions to Indian politics and public life. Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India for four terms dating from 1966 to 1984 and remains India’s only ever female Prime Minister.
Her achievements include bringing about the Green Revolution in India, which helped make the country self-sufficient in food grains. Other accomplishments include giving impetus to her country’s atomic energy programme and making India a nuclear power.
Indira Gandhi oversaw major economic reforms, including nationalising banks and basic industries. Indira also established a system of family planning and population control during her time in leadership. The economic reforms that Indira Gandhi implemented during her premiership laid solid foundations for future growth.
Indira is also famous for leading India to a victorious war against Pakistan. This victory led to the declaration of Bangladesh’s independence.
4. David Cameron
David Cameron is a former UK Prime Minister who attended Oxford University at Brasenose College (1985). He studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics while serving as a member of the Bullingdon Club’s Dining Society. Cameron’s political career began right after graduation when he joined the Conservative’s research department.
Cameron was first elected to Parliament in 2001, and after having won the December 2005 elections, he became the head of the ‘Conservative Party.’ Over the years, his political career progressed, and he was elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2010. He got re-elected in 2015 but resigned on July 13, 2016, amid the United Kingdom’s referendum to exit the European Union in June 2016.
His major accomplishments include passing the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013, which legalised same-sex marriage in the UK, leading Britain into the NATO alliance against Libya’s Mu’ammar Al-Qadhdhāfī. He was prime minister during the 2014 Scottland referendum, which persuaded Scottland to stay in the UK. Cameron also oversaw the revival of the UK the economy after the 2008 recession.
5. Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde is an Oxford Alumni who attended campus in Magdalene College between 1874 and 1878. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Arts, and one could write an entire book on Wilde’s achievements. He was a prolific writer, publishing poetry, short stories, and novels. He was also a playwright and one of the most successful authors of his day.
His plays include The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) and An Ideal Husband (1895). He also wrote notable essays on philosophy, literary criticism, religion, law enforcement procedure against criminals etc. His poetry collections included Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), Ravenna (1878) and The Sphinx (1881).
Perhaps his greatest achievement, however, was his impact on Victorian society. His wit and flamboyance challenged the rigid moral codes of the time and helped pave the way for later movements such as gay rights and feminism.
6. J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R Tolkein earned his BA (English Language and Literature) from the University of Oxford, Exeter College, in 1915. Many people are familiar with Tolkien’s two best-known books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings or have at least seen their film adaptations. Tolkien taught English language and literature and was even on the faculty of the Oxford English Dictionary for a short period. He also wrote a collection of short tales in addition to his novels.
Tolkein was dubbed the “Father of Modern Fantasy Literature” because of his involvement with fictional history, fantasy works, and invented languages. The Lord of the Rings has been transcribed into over 25 languages for audiences all around the globe. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have been dubbed some of the greatest stories published in the twentieth century, 50 years after initial publication.
Hollywood director Peter Jackson transformed these two books into award-winning blockbuster films. Tolkien’s lexicon of Middle-earth has also served as an inspiration for subsequent fantasy authors such as George R. R. Martin and J. K. Rowling.
7 Tim Berners-Lee
Tim Berners-Lee is an English computer scientist, best known as the World Wide Web inventor. Bernes-Lee attended Oxford University (1973- 1976), where he received a BA (Physics). In 1989, while working at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland, he proposed a project based on the concept of hypertext to allow researchers to share information across different computers easily. The project later became the World Wide Web.
Berners-Lee continues to be a prominent advocate for open access to information on the web. In 2009 he founded the World Wide Web Foundation to promote and protect his original vision for the web. He was also one of the founding directors of The Open Data Institute (ODI). He has also made significant contributions to developing the web’s underlying technology, such as HTML and HTTP.
Berners-Lee has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Millennium Technology Prize. Queen Elizabeth II also knighted him for his pioneering work. He is a vocal advocate for openness and privacy online and remains committed to using his influence to make the web a more equitable and accessible place for everyone.
8. Baruch Samuel Blumberg
Blumberg studied Biochemistry at the University of Oxford’s Balliol College, 1957. He was an American physician, virologist and Nobel laureate. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976 for his discovery of the hepatitis B virus and its role in causing liver cancer.
Blumberg’s work on hepatitis helped to develop a vaccine for the disease, which has since saved millions of lives. He also inspired the opening of Blumberg Institute, a nonprofit scientific organization that does research on viruses and vaccines.
Blumberg’s achievements were quite remarkable, and his contributions to science have been invaluable. He will be remembered as a pioneering doctor and scientist who made significant contributions to our understanding of viral diseases and their treatment.
9. Matthew Pinsent
Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent studied Geography at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. In addition to his four Olympic gold medals, Matthew Pinsent has achieved a great deal in his career. He has won 10 gold medals in rowing world championships (one of the highest in rowing competitions).
After retiring from competitive rowing, he has become a BBC broadcaster and commentator. His contributions to the sport of rowing are significant. He has helped develop new training techniques and equipment and acted as a role model for aspiring rowers. He is also a strong advocate for the sport, helping to raise its profile both in the UK and abroad.
10 Stephen Hawking
One of the most renowned men in Science, Stephen Hawking, began his journey at Oxford, where he got his BA in Physics from University College. He has received numerous awards, medals and prizes, including the Albert Einstein Medal(1979), Fellow of Honor (1989), CBE (1982), the Copley Medal (2006), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009), and the Fundamental Physics Award (2013)
Stephen Hawking is a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, and is one of the most brilliant and influential men in modern history. He has written several books on physics, including The Universe in a Nutshell and A Brief History of Time, one of the best selling science books ever.
His contributions to our understanding of black holes and relativity theory have helped shape our view of the universe. As a person with disabilities, he has made great strides against discrimination by showing that people who seem disabled can live actualised lives.
Walking in the footsteps of greats
If you’re interested in walking in the footsteps of recent greats, you can experience university life at some of the world’s best institutions as part of the Oxford Royale Summer School experience. We have locations at the Oxford Summer School, Cambridge Summer School, London Summer School, San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School.