Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December

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On this day

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 1

Births

1923 – Stansfield Turner, American admiral and Director of Central Intelligence 1977–81
1937 – Gordon Crosse (St Edmund Hall), composer
1948 – Tom Wright (Exeter, Wycliffe Hall, Merton and Worcester), New Testament scholar and Bishop of Durham 2003–10
1971 – Emily Mortimer (Lincoln), actress
1982 – Riz Ahmed (Christ Church), actor and rapper

Deaths

1947 – G. H. Hardy (New College), Savilian Professor of Geometry 1919–31
1964 – J. B. S. Haldane (New College), scientist

Other events

1581 – Alexander Briant (Hart Hall), Edmund Campion (St John's, and after whom Campion Hall is named), and Ralph Sherwin (Exeter), Roman Catholic priests, are executed at Tyburn for their faith, and later regarded as martyrs.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 2
Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 2

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 3
Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 3

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 4

Births

1903 – A. L. Rowse (Christ Church and All Souls), historian

Deaths

1826 – Abraham Robertson (Christ Church), Savilian Professor of Geometry 1797–1809

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 5
Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 5

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 6
Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 6

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 7

Births

1834 – Edward Charles Wickham (New College), Dean of Lincoln
1888 – Joyce Cary (Trinity), Irish novelist
1920 – John Hawkesworth, English television and film producer
1941 – Peter Selby (St John's), Bishop of Worcester
1983 – Salil Oberoi, Indian-born cricketer

Deaths

1683 – John Oldham, English poet
1957 – Maurice Jones (Jesus), Principal of St David's College, Lampeter
1978 – Charles Symonds (New College), British neurologist

Other events

1860 – Monier Williams is elected as Boden Professor of Sanskrit after a fiercely fought campaign against Max Müller.

2007 – The Golden Compass, a film based on Philip Pullman's book Northern Lights and partly set at a fictional Jordan College, Oxford, is released.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 8

Births

1752 – Vicesimus Knox (St John's), English essayist and minister
1849 – Sir James Stronge, 5th Baronet (Brasenose), Ulster Unionist politician
1898 – Charles Fawcus, English cricketer
1907 – Kenneth Diplock, Baron Diplock (University), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
1930 – Julian Critchley (Pembroke), Conservative MP
1938 – John Kufuor (Exeter), President of Ghana 2001–2009
1944 – Bernard Rix (New College), Lord Justice of Appeal
1947 – Roy Galley (Worcester), Conservative MP
1954 – Harold Hongju Koh (Magdalen), American lawyer

Deaths

1643 – John Pym (Broadgates Hall), leader of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War
1779 – Nathan Alcock (Jesus), English physician
1967 – Charles Fawcus (Christ Church) (on his 69th birthday), cricketer
2004 – Leslie Scarman, Baron Scarman (Brasenose), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 9

Births

1561 – Edwin Sandys (Corpus Christi), founder member of the Virginia Company of London
1839 – Frederick Halsey (Christ Church), Conservative MP
1846 – William Humble (Exeter), clergyman and cricketer
1863 – John Burnet (Balliol and Merton), classical scholar
1891 – Malcolm Mercer Hollett, member of the Canadian Senate
1905 – R. V. Vernède (Hertford and St Peter's), writer and colonial administrator in India
1909 – Andrew Way (Christ Church), police officer
1913 – Peter Smithers (Magdalen), Conservative MP
1926 – Peter Rees, Baron Rees (Christ Church), Chief Secretary to the Treasury
1929 – Bob Hawke (University), Prime Minister of Australia 1983–1991
1943 – Joanna Trollope (St Hugh's), novelist
1944 – Roger Short (University), diplomat
1948 – Jonathan Sumption (Magdalen), barrister and medieval historian
1963 – Crown Princess Masako (Balliol), Japanese princess
1969 – Raphaël Rouquier (Magdalen), Waynflete Professor of Pure Mathematics at Oxford

Deaths

1781 – Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (Christ Church), landowner in Virginia
1874 – Benjamin Bond Cabbell (Oriel), politician and philanthropist
1901 – Clement Walker Heneage (Christ Church), winner of the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny
1925 – Cosby Godolphin Trench (Corpus Christi), army officer and magistrate in Ireland
1948 – Sir Tim O'Brien, 3rd Baronet (New Inn Hall), England international cricketer
1995 – Gillian Rose (St Hilda's), philosopher and sociologist
2004 – Peter Emery (Oriel), Conservative MP
2006 – Peter Derow (Wadham), classical scholar

Other events

1886 – Edmund Campion (St John's, and in whose honour Campion Hall is named) is beatified by Pope Leo XIII
1937 – Kenneth E. Kirk (Magdalen and Keble) is installed as Bishop of Oxford

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 10

Births

1658 – Lancelot Blackburne (Christ Church), Archbishop of York 1724–1743
1751 – George Shaw (Magdalen Hall), zoologist and botanist
1753 – Richard Thomas (Jesus), Welsh priest and antiquarian
1889 – Gerald Isaacs, 2nd Marquess of Reading (Balliol), barrister and Conservative politician
1889 – Robert Yerburgh, 1st Baron Alvingham (University), Conservative MP
1900 – Eric Berthoud (Magdalen), British ambassador
1923 – James Leasor (Oriel), author
1928 – Jeremy Morse (New College), banker and crossword solver
1939 – Barry Cunliffe (Keble), archeologist
1944 – John Birt, Baron Birt (St Catherine's), Director-General of the BBC 1992–2000
1949 – Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Linacre), journalist and author
1969 – Bruce Ellison, cricketer

Deaths

1626 – Edmund Gunter (Christ Church), mathematician and Gresham Professor of Astronomy
1776 – Robert Hay Drummond (Christ Church), Archbishop of York 1761–1776
1893 – Edward Trollope (Christ Church), Bishop of Nottingham
1940 – Harry Trelawney Eve (Exeter), High Court judge
1942 – Henry Miers (Trinity), mineralogist
1968 – Geoffrey Harold Woolley (Queen's), winner of the Victoria Cross
1987 – Ian Harvey (Christ Church), Conservative politician
1988 – Elizabeth Rawson (Corpus Christi), classical scholar
1994 – Keith Joseph (Magdalen and All Souls), Conservative politician and leading Thatcherite
2007 – Gordon Samuels (Balliol), Governor of New South Wales 1996–2001

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 11

Births

1690 – Sir William Blackett, 2nd Baronet (University), MP
1788 – Thomas-Chaloner Bisse-Challoner (Trinity), militia colonel
1805 – George Anthony Denison (Christ Church and Oriel), Anglican priest
1821 – George Granville Bradley (University), Master of University College and Dean of Westminster
1822 – Henry Moberly, cricketer
1855 – David Ffrangcon Davies (Jesus), Welsh operatic baritone
1897 – George William Clarkson (New College), Bishop of Pontefract 1949–1954
1901 – John Moors Cabot, American diplomat
1918 – Vernon Erskine-Crum (New College), General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland
1931 – Ronald Dworkin (Magdalen and University), American legal theorist
1926 – John Haycraft(Jesus), founder of the International House World Organisation
1942 – Derek Parfit (All Souls), philosopher
1945 – Ralph Waller, Principal of Harris Manchester College
1960 – Rachel Portman (Worcester), Academy Award-winning composer
1974 – Henry Hitchings (Christ Church), author and theatre critic

Deaths

1670 – Thomas Adams (Brasenose), theological writer
1824 – William Lemon (Christ Church), Member of Parliament
1909 – George Henry Sumner (Balliol), Bishop of Guildford 1888–1909
1911 – Rowland Ellis (Jesus), Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney 1906–1911
1948 – Henry Marten (Balliol), Provost of Eton
1966 – Carleton Allen (New College), Australian lawyer and Warden of Rhodes House

Other events

1903 – Bernard Bosanquet (Oriel), inventor of the "googly", makes his Test match debut for England.
1936 – Edward VIII (Magdalen) abdicates from the British throne.
2006 – The appointment of John Lawrence Pritchard (St Peter's) as Bishop of Oxford is announced.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 12

Births

1752 – Thomas Bulkeley, 7th Viscount Bulkeley (Jesus), aristocrat and politician
1807 – Benjamin Wills Newton (Exeter), prominent member of the Plymouth Brethren
1831 – William Henry Fremantle (Balliol) and All Souls), Dean of Ripon
1837 – John Richard Green (Jesus), historian
1898 – William Rankine Milligan, Lord Milligan (University), Solicitor General for Scotland
1905 – E. L. Mascall (Christ Church), theologian
1920 – James McFarlane (St Catherine's), British academic of European literature
1942 – Brough Scott (Corpus Christi), horse racing journalist
1960 – Nicola Horlick (Balliol), investment fund manager
1962 – Peter Bergen (New College), American journalist
1964 – Reeta Chakrabarti (Exeter), British political journalist

Deaths

1867 – Charles Daubeny (Magdalen), Professor of Chemistry and of Botany at Oxford
1950 – William Christopher Wordsworth (Jesus), journalist and academic
1975 – David Mathew (Balliol), Catholic bishop
1981 – J. L. Mackie (Oriel and University), Australian philosopher
1999 – Joseph Heller (St Catherine's), American author (Catch-22)
2004 – William B. Rosson, General commanding United States Army Pacific

Other events

2007 – Richard Gozney (St Edmund Hall) takes up office as Governor of Bermuda.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 13

Births

1640 – Robert Plot (Magdalen Hall and University), naturalist and first Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
1815 – Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (Balliol and University), Dean of Westminster and church historian
1844 – Arthur Lloyd (St Edmund Hall), Bishop of Newcastle 1903–1907
1874 – Robert Scott Troup (St John's), Professor of Forestry
1896 – Russell Berridge White (St Edmund Hall), Bishop of Tonbridge 1959–1968
1914 – Alan Bullock (Wadham and New College), historian and founding Master of St Catherine's College
1940 – Sanjaya Lall (St John's and Green), development economist
1942 – Alan Monk (Jesus), businessman
1947 – Ian James Brackley (Keble), Bishop of Dorking since 1996

Deaths

1878 – David Charles (Jesus), Welsh Calvinistic Methodist cleric
1983 – Mary Renault (St Hugh's), British historical novelist

Other events

1961 – Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Balliol), makes his Test match cricket debut for India.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 14

Births

1777 – Du Pre Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon (Christ Church), Governor of the Cape Colony
1807 – Thomas William Webb (Magdalen), priest and astronomer
1812 – Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning (Christ Church), Governor-General of India
1849 – Charles Buller Heberden (Balliol), Principal of Brasenose College
1860 – Robert Braddell (Brasenose), barrister and politician in Northern Ireland
1862 – Henry Yule Oldham (Jesus), geographer
1888 – Robert Braddell, cricketer
1915 – Anthony Kershaw (Balliol), barrister and Conservative MP
1919 – John Grindrod (Queen's), Archbishop of Brisbane 1980–1989
1930 – David R. Harris, archaeologist
1948 – Kim Beazley (Balliol), Leader of the Australian Labor Party
1960 – Stephen Hester (Lady Margaret Hall), Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group
1979 – Gwyneth Glyn (Jesus), Welsh musician and poet

Deaths

1710 – Henry Aldrich (Christ Church), Dean of Christ Church and architect
1716 – William Trumbull (St John's), lawyer and politician
1735 – Thomas Tanner (Queen's), Bishop of St Asaph 1732–1735
1776 – Francis Geary (Balliol), army officer
1887 – Alexander Heriot Mackonochie (Wadham), Anglican priest
1948 – Alfred Cochrane (Hertford), cricketer and writer
1948 – R. O. Morris (New College), composer and music professor
1952 – Francis Heiser (Jesus), Anglican priest and educator
1997 – Owen Barfield (Wadham), author and philosopher
2004 – Carsten Peter Thiede (Queen's), German biblical scholar

Other events

1955 – Hugh Gaitskell (New College) becomes Leader of the Opposition.
2001 – Iris, a film about Oxford academics Iris Murdoch and John Bayley, is released.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 15

Births

1746 – Lord Henry Seymour-Conway (Hertford and Merton), politician
1778 – John Penrose (Corpus Christi), clergyman and theological writer
1823 – Edward Clarke Lowe (Magdalen Hall and Lincoln), educator
1870 – George Lane-Fox, 1st Baron Bingley (New College), barrister and politician
1889 – Vivian Hunter Galbraith (Balliol), historian
1892 – J. Paul Getty (Magdalen), oilman and philanthropist
1907 – Richard Crossman (New College), Labour Party cabinet minister
1913 – Roger Gaudry, Canadian chemist
1914 – Anatole Abragam (Merton and Jesus), French physicist
1928 – William Dickey (Jesus), American poet
1930 – Ian Grant (Wadham), physicist
1945 – Ivor Crewe (Exeter), Master of University College
1946 – Henrietta Knight, racehorse trainer
1954 – Alex Cox, film director

Deaths

1631 – Theodore Price (All Souls, Jesus and Hart Hall), Welsh clergyman and academic
1715 – George Hickes (St John's, Magdalen, Magdalen Hall and Lincoln), priest and scholar
1749 – William Fortescue (Trinity), Master of the Rolls 1741–1749
1761 – John Willes (Trinity), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1737–1761
1893 – Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective (Christ Church), Anglo-Irish politician
1910 – John Hugh Jones (Jesus), Welsh Catholic priest and writer
1978 – Arthur Irvine (Oriel), Solicitor General for England and Wales 1967–1970
1981 – Claud Cockburn (Keble), journalist

Other events

1921 – Alexander Briant (Hart Hall) and Ralph Sherwin (Exeter) are beatified by Pope Pius XI.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 16

Births

1714 – George Whitefield (Pembroke), American Methodist preacher
1821 – Frederick William Cadogan (Oriel), barrister and politician
1869 – Albert Pollard (Jesus), historian
1897 – Jacobus Duminy, South African international cricketer
1902 – Thomas Raikes, cricketer
1913 – George Ignatieff, Russian-born Canadian diplomat
1928 – Peter Nailor (Wadham), civil servant and academic
1941 – Roger Wheeler (Hertford), Chief of the General Staff 1997–2000
1949 – Heather Hallett (St Hugh's), Lady Justice of Appeal

Other events

1653 – Oliver Cromwell (Chancellor of the University) becomes Lord Protector.
1957 – Feroz Khan Noon becomes Prime Minister of Pakistan.
1993 – Kamisese Mara (Wadham) becomes President of Fiji.

Deaths

1360 – Richard FitzRalph (Balliol), Archbishop of Armagh, Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor of the University
1631 – Robert Bolton (Lincoln), clergyman and academic
1687 – William Petty (Brasenose), economist
1798 – Thomas Pennant (Oriel), Welsh naturalist and antiquary
1811 – Charles Moss (Christ Church), Bishop of Oxford 1807–1811
1893 – Tom Cottingham Edwards-Moss (Brasenose), rower and politician
1897 – William Terriss (Jesus), actor
1905 – Clement Courtenay Knollys (Magdalen), British colonial administrator
1944 – Philip Guedalla (Balliol), barrister and biographer
1952 – Ian Akers-Douglas, cricketer
1977 – James Page (Jesus), Secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association
1998 – Kenyon Jones (Jesus), Welsh international rugby player
2005 – Anthony Barber, Baron Barber (Oriel), Chancellor of the Exchequer 1970–1974

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 17

Births

1662 – Samuel Wesley (Exeter), poet
1685 – Thomas Tickell (Queen's), poet
1826 – Francis Trevelyan Buckland (Christ Church), surgeon and natural historian
1893 – George Algernon West (Lincoln), Lord Bishop of Rangoon 1935–1954
1900 – Mary Cartwright (St Hugh's), mathematician
1906 – Bede Griffiths (Magdalen), Benedictine monk and missionary
1915 – Sir Philip Adams (Christ Church), diplomat
1916 – Penelope Fitzgerald (Somerville), novelist
1927 – Robert Robinson (Exeter), radio and television presenter
1931 – James Anderson, cricketer
1942 – Gareth Stedman Jones (Lincoln and Nuffield), historian
1956 – Nancy-Ann DeParle (Balliol), director of the White House Office of Health Reform
1956 – Dominic Lawson (Christ Church), journalist
1979 – Thum Ping Tjin (Hertford), Singaporean swimmer

Deaths

1758 – Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran, Chancellor of the University 1715–1758
1773 – Andrew Stone (Christ Church), politician
1808 – Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool (University), President of the Board of Trade 1786–1804
1854 – Henry Parry (Jesus), clergyman and antiquarian
1915 – John Rhys (Jesus and Merton), Celtic scholar and Principal of Jesus College
1928 – Eglantyne Jebb (Lady Margaret Hall), social reformer
1947 – Bernard Spilsbury (Magdalen), forensic pathologist
1957 – Dorothy L. Sayers (Somerville), novelist
1977 – Lawrence Turner (Exeter), MP for Oxford 1950–1959
1997 – Reginald Victor Jones (Wadham and Balliol), scientific military intelligence expert

Other events

2008 – Abhisit Vejjajiva (St John's) becomes Prime Minister of Thailand.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 18

Births

1707 – Charles Wesley (Christ Church), Methodist leader and hymn writer
1826 – James John Hornby (Balliol and Brasenose), rower and Headmaster of Eton 1868–1884
1980 – Neville Laski (Corpus Christi), barrister
1916 – Harold Soref (Queen's), Conservative politician
1973 – William Kendall, cricketer
1974 – Tom Parker Bowles (Worcester), writer and son of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Deaths

1858 – John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury (Trinity), civil servant and army officer
1914 – Ingram Bywater (Queen's, Exeter and Christ Church), classical scholar
1916 – Robert Yerburgh (University), Conservative politician
1935 – John Nicolson, South African cricketer
1941 – Hastings Lees-Smith (Queen's), Labour politician
1966 – George Raikes, cricketer and England footballer
1998 – Basil Travers, cricketer and England rugby union international

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 19

Births

1805 – John David Edwards (Jesus), Welsh cleric and hymn tune composer
1872 – Henry Herbert Williams (Queen's and Hertford) Principal of St Edmund Hall and Bishop of Carlisle
1899 – Thomas Iorwerth Ellis (Jesus), Welsh classical scholar
1907 – John Tilney (Magdalen), Conservative politician
1928 – Michael John Hurd (Pembroke), British composer
1942 – John Godfrey (Balliol and St Antony's), Canadian academic and politician

Deaths

1813 – David Hartley (Corpus Christi and Merton), politician and scientist
1880 – Francis Trevelyan Buckland (Christ Church), surgeon and natural historian
1963 – Alan Gardiner (Queen's), Egyptologist
1979 – Donald Creighton (Balliol), Canadian historian
1984 – Nigel Cornwall (Oriel), Bishop of Borneo 1949–1962
2005 – Charles Brett (New College), solicitor and author

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 20

Births

1770 – Lord Henry Spencer (Christ Church), politician and diplomat
1774 – Charles Richard Vaughan (Merton and All Souls), diplomat
1815 – James Legge (Corpus Christi), Professor of Chinese at Oxford 1876–1897
1840 – Adelbert John Robert Anson (Christ Church), Bishop of Qu’Appelle 1884–1892
1867 – Reginald Waterfield (New College), Dean of Hereford 1919–1946
1901 – Robert J. Van de Graaff, American physicist and creator of the Van de Graaff generator
1902 – Gunasena de Soyza (Jesus), Ceylonese diplomat and civil servant
1916 – Edgar Ritchie, Canadian diplomat
1923 – James Leasor (Oriel), novelist
1935 – Susan Thomas, Baroness Thomas of Walliswood (Lady Margaret Hall), businesswoman and Liberal Democrat politician
1950 – Geoffrey Grimmett (Merton and New College), mathematician
1974 – Iain Sutcliffe, cricketer

Deaths

1524 – Thomas Linacre (All Souls), humanist and physician
1773 – Sir John Rogers, 3rd Baronet (New College), lawyer and politician
1970 – Arnold Heeney, Canadian diplomat
1974 – R. A. Bevan (Christ Church), advertising and communications businessman
1994 – Dean Rusk (St John's), United States Secretary of State 1961–1969
2008 – Joel Mandelstam (Linacre), microbiologist
2008 – Adrian Mitchell (Christ Church), poet, novelist and playwright

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 21

Births

1542 – Thomas Allen (Trinity), mathematician and astrologer
1795 – Jack Russell (Exeter), dog breeder
1811 – Archibald Campbell Tait (Balliol), Archbishop of Canterbury 1868–1882
1835 – Thomas Graham Jackson (Wadham), architect of many Oxford buildings
1888 – Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (Balliol), pacifist during the 1930s
1905 – Harold Caccia, Baron Caccia (Trinity), diplomat and Provost of Eton
1905 – Anthony Powell (Balliol), novelist
1913 – Jock Lewes (Christ Church), army officer and creator of the Lewes bomb
1915 – Frank Willan (Magdalen), RAF pilot and Conservative local government politician
1917 – Diana Athill (Lady Margaret Hall), literary editor
1945 – Alan Williams (Jesus), Labour politician

Deaths

1653 – Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester, Royalist politician and courtier
1835 – Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet (Trinity), Scottish politician and writer
1951 – Edmund Fellowes (Oriel), clergyman and musical scholar
1972 – Hugh Edwards (Christ Church), Olympic rower
1988 – Nikolaas Tinbergen (Merton and Wolfson), Dutch ethologist and Nobel Prize winner
2008 – Christopher Hibbert (Oriel), historian and biographer

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 22

Births

1696 – James Oglethorpe (Corpus Christi), founder of the Colony of Georgia
1739 – Topham Beauclerk (Trinity), friend of Samuel Johnson
1766 – Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort (Trinity), politician
1779 – Thomas Gaisford (Christ Church), classical scholar
1805 – John Obadiah Westwood (Magdalen), entomologist and archaeologist
1840 – Henry Chaplin, 1st Viscount Chaplin (Christ Church), politician
1895 – Adrian Holman (New College), diplomat
1899 – Alexander Valentine (Worcester), Chairman of the London Transport Executive
1920 – Thomas George Adames Baker (Exeter), Dean of Worcester 1975–1986
1922 – Eryl Davies (Jesus), Chief Inspector of Schools for Wales
1936 – James Burke (Jesus), science historian
1941 – John Hattendorf (Pembroke), American naval historian
1944 – Mary Archer (St Anne's), scientist
1954 – Hugh Quarshie (Christ Church), actor
1957 – Stephen Conway (Keble), Bishop of Ramsbury since 2006
1960 – Alex Thomson (University), journalist

Deaths

1681 – Richard Alleine (St Alban Hall and New Inn Hall), clergyman
1843 – John Bigge (Christ Church), judge
1956 – Adair Roche, Baron Roche (Wadham), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
1995 – James Meade (Oriel), winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
2007 – Andrew Glyn (Corpus Christi), economist

Other events

1846 – Charles Edward Grey (University and Oriel) arrives to take up his post as Governor of Jamaica.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 23

Births

1621 – Edmund Berry Godfrey (Christ Church), magistrate
1621 – Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham (Christ Church), Lord Chancellor of England 1675–1682
1642 – John Holt (Oriel), Lord Chief Justice of England 1689–1710
1801 – William Watkin Edward Wynne (Jesus), politician and antiquarian
1889 – Frank Kingsley Griffith (Balliol), politician and judge
1916 – Robert Blake, Baron Blake (Magdalen, Christ Church and Queen's), historian
1918 – Robert Lewin (Pembroke), Polish art dealer
1919 – Duncan Gordon Blair (Exeter), Canadian politician and judge
1944 – Wesley Clark (Magdalen), American general
1945 – Geoffrey Wheatcroft (New College), journalist and writer
1967 – Ian Buckett (University), Welsh rugby union international
1968 – Siôn Simon (Magdalen), politician

Deaths

1902 – Frederick Temple (Balliol), Archbishop of Canterbury 1896–1902
1928 – William Turner Thiselton-Dyer (Christ Church), botanist
1929 – Robert Hugh Wallace (Brasenose), lawyer and politician in Northern Ireland
1953 – Edward Ernest Hughes (Jesus), historian
1873 – John Erskine Read (University), Canadian politician and judge
1990 – Gwilym Owen Williams (Jesus), Archbishop of Wales 1972–1981
1999 – Eirene White, Baroness White (Somerville), politician
2004 – Peter Beazley (St John's), businessman and politician
2004 – Roger Moorey (Corpus Christi and Wolfson), historian and archeologist

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 24

Births

1822 – Matthew Arnold (Balliol), poet
1873 – Harry Brittain (Worcester), journalist and politician
1880 – Philip Glazebrook (New College), politician
1932 – Colin Cowdrey (Brasenose), England cricket captain
1936 – Ivan Lawrence (Christ Church), barrister and politician
1969 – Ed Miliband (Corpus Christi), Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change since 2008
1970 – Jonathan Zittrain (Keble), Professor of Internet Law at Harvard Law School

Deaths

1668 – Wadham Wyndham (Wadham), judge
1684 – Hugh Wyndham (Wadham), judge
1916 – William Henry Fremantle (Balliol and All Souls), Dean of Ripon
1938 – John Hills (Balliol), politician
1986 – Guy Barnett (St Edmund Hall), politician
1993 – Ralph Downes (Keble), organist
2007 – Nicholas Pumfrey (St Edmund Hall), Lord Justice of Appeal

Other events

1927 – In cricket, Ian Peebles, Rony Stanyforth and Jacobus Duminy make their test match debuts, Peebles and Stanyforth for England and Duminy for South Africa.
1938 – Alan Melville and Pieter van der Bijl make their test match debuts for South Africa

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 25

Births

1843 – Edward Ellis Morris (Lincoln), writer
1902 – Gerald Thesiger (Magdalen), High Court judge
1916 – John McManners (St Edmund Hall and All Souls), historian of religion
1919 – Abu Rushd, Bangladeshi author
1944 – Nigel Starmer-Smith (University), rugby union player and commentator
1965 – Edward Davey (Jesus), Liberal Democrat politician
1966 – Stephen Twigg (Balliol), Labour politician

Deaths

1676 – Matthew Hale (Magdalen Hall), Lord Chief Justice 1671–1676
1758 – James Hervey (Lincoln), clergyman
1890 – William Thomson (Queen's), Archbishop of York 1862–1890
1916 – James Round (Christ Church), cricketer and politician
1988 – Edward Pelham-Clinton, 10th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (Trinity), lepidopterist
2004 – James Hunter Blair (Balliol), Scottish historic preservationist
2005 – John Hayes (Keble), art historian and museum director

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 26

Births

1816 – William Henry Anderdon (Balliol and University), Catholic priest and writer
1837 – William Boyd Dawkins (Jesus), geologist and archeologist
1858 – Owen Morgan Edwards (Balliol and Lincoln), Welsh historian and writer
1868 – Francis Edward Newman Rogers (Balliol), Liberal politician
1892 – Archibald Rowlands (Jesus), civil servant
1901 – Victor Hely-Hutchinson (Balliol), composer
1930 – Elliott H. Levitas, member of the US House of Representatives
1930 – Wilferd Madelung, German scholar of Islam
1949 – José Ramos-Horta (St Antony's), President of East Timor
1956 – Noel Malcolm (All Souls), historian
1960 – Andrew Graham-Dixon (Christ Church), art historian
1976 – Jake Wetzel (Linacre), Canadian/American rower

Deaths

1933 – Henry Watson Fowler (Balliol), schoolmaster and lexicographer
1960 – Richard Livingstone (New College and Corpus Christi), classicist and President of Corpus Christi
1970 – Henry Campbell (Brasenose), Bishop of London 1956–61
1976 – Nathaniel Micklem (New College and Mansfield), theologian and Principal of Mansfield
1981 – Robert Price (Wadham), Dean of Hereford 1961–68
1989 – Lennox Berkeley (Merton), composer
1992 – Edmund Davies, Baron Edmund-Davies (Exeter), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
2003 – Chauncy Harris, American geographer
2004 – Angus Ogilvy (Trinity), businessman and member of the royal family
2006 – John Heath-Stubbs (Queen's), poet
2008 – David Nicolson, 4th Baron Carnock (Balliol), chief of Clan Nicolson

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 27

Births

1793 – George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough (Christ Church), politician
1855 – George Byron, 9th Baron Byron (Christ Church), army officer
1859 – Sir William Henry Hadow (Worcester), musicologist and academic
1865 – Richard Ellis (Jesus), Welsh librarian
1869 – Henry St John Stirling Woollcombe (Keble), Bishop of Whitby 1923–1939
1898 – W. C. Sellar (Oriel), humorist and co-author of 1066 and All That
1902 – Nowell Myres (New College and Christ Church), archeologist and Bodley's Librarian 1948–1965
1903 – Edith Bülbring, German pharmacologist
1915 – Lionel Cooper (Queen's), South African mathematician
1919 – Brinley Rees (Merton and Jesus), Welsh classical scholar and academic
1920 – Richard Nolte, American diplomat
1930 – Wilfrid Sheed, American novelist
1936 – Hugh James Arbuthnott (New College), diplomat
1946 – Polly Toynbee (St Anne's), journalist
1962 – John Kampfner (Queen's), journalist

Deaths

1615 – John Fenn (New College), Catholic priest and writer
1784 – Edward Wynne (Jesus), lawyer
1904 – Gerald Yonge, cricketer
1972 – Lester B. Pearson (St John's), Prime Minister of Canada 1963–1968
1986 – George Dangerfield (Hertford), journalist and historian
2001 – Ian Hamilton (Keble), poet and critic
2006 – Marmaduke Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley (Trinity), Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC 1986–1996
2007 – Benazir Bhutto (Lady Margaret Hall and St Catherine's), former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is assassinated after a political rally.

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 28

Births

1840 – George Thomas Kenyon (Christ Church), politician
1904 – Sir William Mount, 2nd Baronet (New College), High Sheriff of Berkshire
1926 – Donald Carr, cricketer
1937 – Sir John Carter (Jesus), businessman
1940 – Peter M. Neumann (Queen's), mathematician
1945 – Max Hastings (University), journalist and writer
1951 – Ian Buruma (St Antony's), Dutch writer
1960 – Nicola Horlick (Balliol), investment fund manager

Other events

2000 – John Kufuor (Exeter) is elected President of Ghana.

Deaths

1644 – John Bankes (Queen's), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1641–1644
1674 – John Oxenbridge (Magdalen Hall), non-conformist clergyman
1723 – Sir Charles Lloyd, 1st Baronet, of Milfield (Jesus), politician
1835 – William Turton (Oriel), natural historian
1854 – Rowland Williams (Jesus), Welsh clergyman and writer
1889 – Francis Albert Marshall (Exeter), playwright
1949 – Jack Lovelock (Exeter), New Zealand athlete
1965 – Jeremy Wolfenden (Magdalen and All Souls), journalist and spy
2003 – John Terraine (Keble), military historian
2006 – Mandy Mitchell-Innes (Brasenose), English test match cricketer
2008 – Michael Levey (Exeter), art historian
2008 – Susan Sontag (St Anne's), American author and literary theorist

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 29

Births

1718 – Sir John Boyd, 1st Baronet (Christ Church), merchant
1809 – William Ewart Gladstone (Christ Church), four times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1829 – Edward King (Oriel and Christ Church), Bishop of Lincoln 1895–1910
1870 – Robert Dewi Williams (Jesus), Welsh schoolteacher and minister
1893 – Vera Brittain (Somerville), English writer and pacifist
1902 – Edward Pakenham, 6th Earl of Longford (Christ Church), Irish writer and politician
1953 – Alan Rusbridger (Nuffield), journalist

Deaths

1689 – Thomas Sydenham (Magdalen Hall and All Souls), physician
1898 – Bartholomew Price (Pembroke), mathematician
1919 – William Osler (Christ Church), Canadian physician
1968 – Austin Farrer (Balliol, St Edmund Hall, Trinity and Keble), theologian
1971 – John Marshall Harlan II (Balliol), American Supreme Court judge 1955–1971
1986 – Harold Macmillan (Balliol), British Prime Minister 1957–1963 and Chancellor of the University 1960–1986
1997 – Robert Walter Steel (Jesus and St Peter's Hall), geographer

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 30

Births

1676 – John Philips (Christ Church), poet
1908 – Lawrence Turner (Exeter), Conservative politician
1921 – J. L. Ackrill (St John's and Brasenose), philosopher and classicist
1926 – Huw Owen (Jesus), theologian
1943 – Geraint Talfan Davies (Jesus), Controller of BBC Wales 1990–2000
1950 – Timothy Mo (St John's), novelist

Deaths

1494 – John Russell (New College), Bishop of Lincoln 1480–1494, Lord Chancellor 1483–1485 and University Chancellor 1483–1494
1624 – John Kendrick (St John's), cloth merchant and philanthropist
1967 – Vincent Massey (Balliol), Governor General of Canada 1952–1959

Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/December 31

Births

1635 – Robert Southwell (Queen's), politician and President of the Royal Society
1696 – Thomas Winnington (Christ Church), politician
1870 – David John Jones (Jesus), Dean of Llandaff 1931–48
1877 – Edward Keble Talbot (Christ Church), Anglican priest
1946 – Sheila Forbes (St Hilda's), Principal of St Hilda's from 2007
1946 – Martin Mansergh (Christ Church), Irish politician
1947 – June Tabor (St Hugh's), folk singer
1948 – Rick Trainor (Merton and Nuffield), American academic
1973 – Gul Khan, cricketer

Other events

1966 – Abbas Ali Baig makes his test match debut for India.
2005 – Kenneth Dover (Balliol and Corpus Christi) stands down as Chancellor of the University of St Andrews.

Deaths

1384 – John Wycliffe (Balliol and Queen's), theologian and bible translator
1660 – Thomas Powell (Jesus), Welsh cleric and writer
1714 – John Wynne (Jesus), Welsh industrialist
1715 – William Wycherley (Queen's), dramatist
1826 – William Gifford (Exeter), critic and poet
1936 – Ralph Wigram (University), Foreign Office civil servant who assisted Churchill before the Second World War
1939 – Frank Benson (New College), actor and theatre manager
1955 – Cyril Garbett (Keble), Archbishop of York 1942–55
2001 – Guido di Tella (St Antony's), Argentine businessman and politician
2001 – John Grigg (New College), writer and historian
2005 – Phillip Whitehead (Exeter), Labour politician