Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

Universities of the United Kingdom

Placeholder text

University of Cambridge

Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 26 1819; d. December 14 1861

1847 – 1861

William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 27 1808; d. December 21 1891

Titles of nobility: Earl of Burlington in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1834 – 1891); Duke of Devonshire in the Peerage of England (1858 – 1891)

1861 – 1891

Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1833; d. March 24 1908

Noble titles: Duke of Devonshire in the Peerage of England (1891 – 1908)

1892 – 1908

Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 25 1848; d. March 19 1930

Titles of nobility: Earl of Balfour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1922 – 1930)

1919 – 1930

Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1867; d. December 14 1947

Titles of nobility: Earl Baldwin of Bewdley in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1937 – 1947); Viscount Corvedale in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1937 – 1947).

1930 – 1947

Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 24 1870; d. September 11 1950

1948 – 1950

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1885; d. December 21 1945

Titles of nobility: Baron Tedder in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1946 – 1967).

Military ranks: Promoted to air vice marshal, 1937. Promoted to air chief marshal, 1943. Promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force, 1945.

1950 – 1967

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 10 1921; d. April 9 2021

Titles of nobility: Duke of Edinburgh in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1947 – 2021).

1976 – 2011

Masters of Magdalene College, Cambridge

Placeholder text

Arthur Christopher Benson

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 24 1862; d. June 17 1925

1915 – 1925

University of Oxford

Placeholder text

Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852

Noble titles: Viscount Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1809 – 1852); Count of Vimeiro in the nobility of Portugal (1811 – 1852); Earl of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Marquess of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Duke of Vitória in the nobility of Portugal (1812 – 1852); Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in the nobility of Spain (1812 – 1852); Duke of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1814 – 1852); Prince of Waterloo in the nobility of the Netherlands (1815 – 1852)

Military ranks: Major-General (1802 – 1808); Lieutenant-General (1808 – 1811); General (1811 – 1813); Field Marshal (1813 – 1852)

1834 – 1852

Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1799; d. October 23 1869

Titles of nobility: Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1844 – 1869); Earl of Derby in the Peerage of England (1851 – 1869)

1852 – 1869

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1903)

1869 – 1903

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1903)

1869 – 1903

Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl Halifax

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 16 1881; d. December 23 1959

Titles of nobility: Baron Irwin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1959); Viscount Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1934 – 1959); Earl of Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1944 – 1959).

1933 – 1959

Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 10 1894; d. December 29 1986

Titles of nobility: Earl of Stockton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1984 – 1986); Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1984 – 1986)

1960 – 1986

Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 11 1920; d. January 5 2003.

1987 – 2003

William Jefferson Hague, Baron Hague of Richmond

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 26 1961.

2025 – present