Alumni in history

Leading Sudanese scholar, government minister, and expert in Arabic and Islamic culture and language.

Marking the 250th anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life of Sir Walter Scott, Edinburgh's most renowned literary son, through 10 places in Edinburgh and beyond that helped form his life and work.

We explore the life of the Scottish diplomat and author, whose involvement in a 1986 royal press crisis recently gripped viewers of 'The Crown'.

The Scottish physician and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1858 to 1861. He invented the first true hypodermic syringe that has made today's mass vaccinations possible.

In LGBT+ History Month, we look at the life and work of Elke Mackenzie, known as I.M. Lamb within the field of botany. She specialised in lichenology and was noted for fruitful polar explorations and various influential publications.

Prolific civil engineer and the first female fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, who has inspired a new initiative for women in engineering at the University.

Medical doctor and President of the African National Congress from 1949 to 1952.

​​​​​​​Australian Methodist minister and renowned scholar of Middle Eastern languages and manuscripts.

Edinburgh-based postwar painter and teacher who was widely acclaimed and collected throughout her long career.

Social worker, researcher, and advocate for the rights of adopted and donor-conceived people.

Scottish singer, composer and music teacher who studied as an extra-academical student.

Celtic scholar, Gaelic advocate and acclaimed editor.

Scottish pathologist who promoted the widespread use of Edinburgh University Solution (Eusol) during the First World War.

Photographer, broadcaster, geologist, traveller, pilot and Ireland's first female flight instructor.

January 29th marks the 93rd anniversary of the birth of Edward Abbey, the influential American writer whose work continues to inspire modern environmentalists, and who spent a year at the University of Edinburgh.

Scottish mathematician who discovered the first graph with 54 vertices and 81 edges while working at American Telephone and Telegraph. The innovative and useful graph is commonly known as the Gray graph.

Helen Adam was a Scottish-American poet and visual artist, whose work features tales of fatal romances, sadistic sexual affairs, jealous lovers and vengeful demons.

Indian biochemist, British Indian Army general and military physician who was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament

Pioneering Nigerian surgeon, Inspector General of Medical Services, and former Chief Medical Adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Feminist, human rights campaigner and child welfare advocate.

Influential physician, botanist, and New York citizen who was the first person to bring European-style landscape architecture to the United States of America.

Irish mathematical physicist whose PhD from the University of Edinburgh made her the first Irish-born and -raised woman to receive a doctorate in the mathematical sciences

Accomplished English rugby union player and First World War sailor who studied medicine at Edinburgh.

Scottish physician, head of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, and the first woman to receive an MD from the University of Edinburgh.

In national LGBT History month, we look at the life of gay writer C. K. Scott Moncrieff, the twice-graduate of Edinburgh who became famous for his English translations of Proust.

Entomologist who became the first woman Fellow of the Meteorological Society and first woman to be given an honorary doctorate by University of Edinburgh.

November marks the centenary of the birth of Margaret Tait, the Orcadian medic turned film-maker and poet.

Scottish electrical engineer, and a pioneer in the field of electricity generation through wind power and his wind turbine.

Eminent surgeon and university dean turned political opponent who stood for unity in Ethiopia.

Scottish physicist and pioneer in X-rays and superconductivity.

As the NHS celebrates its 70th anniversary, we take a look at the life of Professor Norman Dott, who helped establish the University's neurology department in 1960.

Influential Scottish-Nigerian doctor, and the first woman of West African heritage to train and qualify in orthodox medicine.

One of the first woman MPs, prominent socialist, and leading founder of the Open University.

Sharp-witted poet famed for his wry commentaries on Edinburgh life.

The first woman to graduate with BD and PhD degrees from New College.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of his death, we look at the life of John P. Mackintosh - politician, professor, writer, and proponent of Scottish devolution.

Eminent surgeon, pioneer of medical anaesthesia, and advocate for women working in surgery and medicine.

Regarded as one of New Zealand's greatest mathematicians and Chair of Mathematics at the University from 1946 to 1965.

Celebrated stage and film actor who played fellow graduate Eric Liddell in 'Chariots of Fire'.

Missionary, child health pioneer, and the first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Judge, philosopher and founder of modern comparative historical linguistics.

Scottish theologian and Church of Scotland minister.

Following this month's General Election, we take a look at the life of former Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston.

Scottish poet and diarist, known for his ‘bairn rhymes’, and recently honoured by the City of Edinburgh.

Psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and the father of the object relations theory of psychoanalysis.

Industrialist, politician and inventor who became known for her battle with the US taxman.

Academy Award-winning screenplay writer, novelist and captain of Dundee United.

Celebrated Scottish astronomer, soldier and Governor of New South Wales.

Scottish naturalist, polar scientist and oceanographer who led the first and only Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.

October 2016 marks the tercentenary of the birth of James Lind, the Edinburgh alumnus who pioneered the use of citrus fruits to treat scurvy.