The Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen is the titular head of the institution and President of the General Council. The Chancellor is elected by the university's graduate body, the General Council, and the role may be held for life. The main responsibilities of the role are to be an ambassador for the university, and to undertake other ceremonial duties, including conferring degrees on graduands on occasion.^[1]

The 11th Chancellor of the university is Her Majesty The Queen who succeeded The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn in January 2013.^[2]

History

The position was created with the amalgamation of the two existing ancient universities in Aberdeen, King's College (est. 1495) and Marischal College (est. 1593) in 1860.^[3] Prior to the merge, there were 23 Chancellors of King's College, the majority of whom were Bishops of the diocese, and 12 Chancellors of Marischal College composed equally of Earls Marsichals and Peers.^[4]

List of chancellors of the University of Aberdeen

• 1861—1903 Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond
• 1903—1914(?) Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal
• 1945—50 Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
• 1951—1965 Rt. Hon Thomas Johnston
• 1966—1986 Henry Hepburne-Scott, 10th Lord Polwarth
• 1986—1996 Sir Kenneth Alexander
• 1997—2013 David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
• 2013—present Queen Camilla

List of chancellors of former constituent colleges

Chancellors of King's College, Aberdeen

• 1577—1600 David Cunningham, Bishop of Aberdeen
• ?—? Patrick Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen
• ?—? Alexander Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen
• 1664—? Patrick Scougal, Bishop of Aberdeen
• 1827—? George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen

Chancellors of Marischal College

• 1761—1792 John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute