List_of_University_of_Leeds_people
This list of University of Leeds people is a selected list of notable past staff and students of the University of Leeds.
 | This list needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
Politics
- Hage Geingob, former President of Namibia
- Kwabena Kwakye Anti, Ghanaian politician
- John Battle, former Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds West (English, 1976)[1]
- Irwin Bellow, Baron Bellwin, former Conservative Minister of State for the Environment (LLB in Law)[2]
- Alan Campbell, Labour Member of Parliament for Tynemouth and former Government Whip (PGCE)[3]
- Mark Collett, former chairman of the Young BNP, the youth division of the British National Party; Director of Publicity for the Party before being suspended from the party in early April 2010 (Business Economics, 2002)
- Nambaryn Enkhbayar, former President of Mongolia (2000-2004) (exchange student, 1986)
- José Ángel Gurría, economist, secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Ken Hind, barrister and former Conservative Member of Parliament for West Lancashire (Law, 1971)
- Eric Illsley, Labour Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central (LLB in Law)
- Chris Leslie, Former Labour Member of Parliament for Shipley (1997-2005) and Nottingham East (2010–19) (Politics and Parliamentary Studies, 1994)
- Andrew Leung, current President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
- Alison Lowe, first black woman Leeds City Councillor (History, matriculated 1987)
- Simba Makoni, Zimbabwean Politician and candidate for Zimbabwe elections 2008
- Jess Phillips, Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley (UK Parliament constituency) (Economics and Economic History and Social Policy, 2003)
- Rafizi Ramli, Minister of Economy of Malaysia (BEng Electrical Engineering, 1999)
- Khalid Samad, Malaysian politician and former Minister Of Federal Territories; Current Member of Parliament for Shah Alam
- Clare Short, former Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood and International Development Secretary (Political Science, 1969)
- Jeanne Siméon, current Minister of Habitat, Lands, Infrastructure, and Land Transport in the Seychelles (Education Management and Teacher Training)[4][5]
- Bracewell Smith, businessman, Conservative Member of Parliament (1932–45) and Lord Mayor of London (1946)
- Alex Sobel, Labour Co-op Member of Parliament for Leeds North West (Information Systems, 1997)
- Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party from 2020, MP for Holborn and St Pancras from 2015, Director of Public Prosecutions, 2008–2013 (LLB Law, 1985)
- Jack Straw, barrister and Labour Member of Parliament for Blackburn; former Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary (LLB in Law, 1967)
- Paul Truswell, former Labour Member of Parliament for Pudsey (History, 1977)
- Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi, former Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio (LLB in Law)
- Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Chief Minister Terengganu and former lecturer (Aerospace)
Media
- Timothy Allen, photojournalist (Zoology, 1989)[6]
- Steve Bell, political cartoonist for The Guardian (Fine Art, 1974)[7]
- Mark Brayne, BBC foreign correspondent (BA, Modern Languages, 1973)[8]
- Mark Byford, deputy Director-General of the BBC (LLB in Law, 1979)[9]
- James Cooper, Co-host of My Dad Wrote a Porno
- Martine Croxall, TV journalist and news presenter BBC News (BA Geography, 1990)
- Barry Cryer, comedian and scriptwriter (English, did not graduate,[10] awarded an honorary doctorate in 2017)
- Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail (English, 1970)[7]
- Gavin Esler, Newsnight anchor (MA Anglo-Irish Literature, 1975)[7]
- Polly Evans, television presenter, South East Today (English & Theatre, 1990s)
- Jenni Falconer, television presenter (Student, Spanish and Italian, 1990s)[11]
- Tatiana Hambro, fashion writer and editor for Moda Operandi and British Vogue
- Nancy Kacungira, Ugandan presenter and correspondent, BBC News[12]
- Andy Kershaw, DJ and broadcaster (Politics)
- Liz Kershaw, journalist and radio DJ (Textiles, 1978)[10]
- Alice Levine, Co-host of My Dad Wrote a Porno and former BBC Radio 1 DJ
- Melanie McFadyean (1950–2023), journalist and lecturer
- Peter Morgan, screenwriter (Fine Art, 1985)[13]
- Jamie Morton, Co-host of My Dad Wrote a Porno
- Naga Munchetty, TV presenter and journalist (English Literature and Language, 1997)
- Nick Owen, English television presenter and newsreader (Classics, 1969)
- Richard Quest, reporter for CNN (Law, 1985)[7]
- Anita Rani, English radio and television presenter and journalist (Broadcasting)[10]
- Jay Rayner, features writer and restaurant critic, The Observer (Political Studies, 1987)[7]
- Steve Rosenberg, BBC Russia editor (Russian Studies, 1991)
- Georgie Thompson, Sky Sports News presenter (Broadcast Journalism, 1999)[7]
- Fergus Walsh, BBC medical editor (English Literature, 1983)
- Mark Wheat, radio DJ at The Current from Minnesota Public Radio (English, 1981)[14]
- Nicholas Witchell, BBC newsreader and royal and diplomatic correspondent (LLB in Law, 1976)[7]
- Alan Yentob, BBC Creative Director (LLB in Law, 1968)[10]
Arts
Music
- The members of Alt-J met at the university (Fine Art; English Literature, 2007)[14]
- David Gedge, guitarist, songwriter and vocalist in The Wedding Present, Cinerama (band) (Mathematics, 1981)[15]
- Alex Glasgow, singer/songwriter (German)
- Mark Knopfler, rock musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter (English, 1973)[15]
- Little Boots, born Victoria Hesketh, electronica musician[16]
- Corinne Bailey Rae, soul singer (English Literature, 2000)[15]
- Simon Rix, bass player for Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs (Maths and Geography, 2000)[15]
- Sigma (DJs), English drum and bass duo consisting of Cameron Edwards and Joe Lenzie
- Kyle Simmons, member of Bastille
- Dan Smith, member of Bastille[15]
- Estelle White, composer
- Katie White, singer and guitarist of The Ting Tings[17]
- Joanne Yeoh, Malaysian violinist (Music, 1999)[18]
Theatre and Film
- Shona Auerbach, award-winning director/cinematographer of Dear Frankie
- Leslie Cheung, Hong Kong actor and singer (Textile Management, did not graduate due to family reason, 1977)
- Emma Mackey, French-British actress
- Alistair McGowan, actor, comedian and impressionist (English, 1986)[10]
- Kay Mellor, television actress and scriptwriter (attended Bretton Hall, 1983)
- Hannah New, English model and actress
- Kate Phillips, English actress
- Ronald Pickup, English actor (English 1962)
- Chris Pine, American Hollywood actor, studied as a year abroad student during his junior year (English)[10]
- Laura Rollins, English actress, studied English and Theatre[19]
- Siddhanth, Indian Kannada actor, (studied M.H.A.)[20]
Literary
- Patrick Allen, award-winning author and teacher (English and French, 1979)
- Nick Brownlee, crime thriller writer
- Jonathan Clements, writer (Japanese, 1994)
- Tony Harrison, poet (Classics with Linguistics, 1958)[13]
- Storm Jameson, writer (English, 1912; MA 1914)[21]
- Pamela Kola, Kenyan children's author
- Lucy Diamond, pen name of Sue Mongredien, children's author (English 1993)
- Arthur Ransome, writer,[21] studied science for two terms in 1901
- Herbert Read, poet and literary critic (English)[21]
- Wole Soyinka, Nigerian writer and first African winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986 (English, 1957)[13]
- Greg Stekelman, writer and illustrator, author of A Year in the Life of TheManWhoFellAsleep (English and Spanish, 1998)
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Kenyan author (English student, 1960s)[22]
Other
- Paul Crowther, philosopher, university lecturer and author
- Jeremy Dyson, screenwriter and member of The League of Gentlemen (Philosophy, 1989)[13]
- Jacky Fleming, award-winning cartoonist
- Barry John, theatre director and teacher
- Malcolm Neesam, historian of Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Esther Simpson, organiser of academic equivalent of the kindertransport, saving refugee scholars from Nazis, campus building named after her in 2022.[23]
Science and technology
- Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Punjab
- Lilias Armstrong, phonetician (B.A., 1906)[24]
- Sir David Baulcombe, plant scientist (Botany, 1973)
- Robert Blackburn, aviation pioneer and founder of Blackburn Aircraft[21] (Engineering, 1906)
- Dave Cliff, Professor of Computer Science, University of Bristol (Computational Science, 1987)
- Emily Cummins, Technology Woman of the Future 2006, British Female Innovator Of the Year 2007
- Val Curtis, professor in public health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Rubina Gillani, Pakistani medical doctor and public health specialist
- Edmund Happold, founder of Buro Happold and the Construction Industry Council (Civil Engineering, 1957)[21]
- Sir Percival Hartley (1905) Director of Biological Standards, National Institute for Medical Research
- D. G. Hessayon, gardening author (Botany, 1950)[13]
- V. Craig Jordan, responsible for pioneering research into breast cancer and the development of the cancer drug tamoxifen (BSc and Ph.D. in pharmacology, 1969 and 1972)[25]
- Esther Killick, physiologist (MB ChB 1929, MSc 1937, DSc 1952)
- Michael Lawrie, computer security and social networking expert (Computational Science, 1989)
- Michael Martin, bridge engineer (Civil Engineering, 1975)[26]
- Sir Timothy O'Shea, computer scientist and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Edinburgh
- George Porter, chemist, Nobel Prize winner and President of the Royal Society (Chemistry, 1941)
- Dan Quine, computer scientist[27]
- Anya Reading, geophysics lecturer at the University of Tasmania (PhD Geophysics 1997)
- Malcolm Richardson, mycologist
- Piers Sellers, NASA astronaut (Biometeorology, 1981)
- Margot Shiner, gastroenterologist (Medicine, 1947)
- Karen Steel, geneticist, Principal Investigator at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
- James Francis Tait, Endocrinologist and discoverer of aldosterone. (Physics 1945)
- Hassan Ugail, Professor of Visual Computing at the University of Bradford
- Jennifer Wilby, Director of the Centre for Systems Studies, University of Hull
- Guy Alfred Wyon, pathologist, researcher, lecturer
- Anne Young (nurse), founder of the first Irish school of general nursing
- Robert Zachary, paediatric surgeon
Other
- Abdullah Yusuf Ali, translator of the Quran
- Michael Asher, desert explorer and author (English 1977)[13]
- Alistair Brownlee, Olympian and ITU Triathlon World Champion (Physiology and Sport 2009)[28]
- Daniel Byles, Guinness World Record-holding ocean rower and polar explorer (Economics and Management Studies 1996)
- Nancy Cruickshank, British entrepreneur in beauty, fashion, and technology[29]
- Abdul Haque Faridi, Bangladeshi academic
- Kat Fletcher, president of the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom, 2004-2006 (Sociology)
- Bagrat Galstanyan, Armenian theologian and cleric, primate of the Diocese of Tavush
- Andrew Harrison (born 1970), CEO of Carphone Warehouse[30]
- Lindsay Hawker, British English teacher and murder victim (English, 2006)[31]
- Peter Hendy, Baron Hendy of Richmond Hill, Chairman, Network Rail (Economics & Geography, 1975)[32]
- Richard Hoggart, sociologist and author of The Uses of Literacy (English, 1939)[21]
- Euphemia Steele Innes, RRC, DN (1874–1955), Scottish nurse, matron of Leeds General Infirmary for 21 years, principal matron of 2nd Northern General Hospital, founder of Leeds Nurses' League
- Lauren Jeska, transgender fell runner convicted of the attempted murder of Ralph Knibbs (Gender Studies)[33]
- Simon Lee, businessman, Chief Executive of RSA Insurance Group (English and French)
- Nicola Mendelsohn, British advertising executive (English and Theatre Studies, 1992)[32]
- Abdullah O. Nasseef, Saudi geologist, chemist and politician
- W. H. New, Professor of English Literature at The University of British Columbia, Officer of the Order of Canada
- Tom Palmer, Rugby Union player
- David Parry, dialectologist who founded the Survey of Anglo-Welsh Dialects
- Ivor Porter, ambassador and author of Operation Autonomous and King Michael (English, 1936)
- Richard Profit, polar explorer (Biology and Management Studies 1996)
- Subir Raha, Indian business leader (MBA 1985)
- Ken Robinson, educationalist (English and drama, 1972)
- Sir Christopher Rose, former head of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (LL.B., 1957)[34]
- Jacob Rowan, former captain for the England U20 Rugby Union Team and current player for Gloucester Rugby[28]
- Harold Shipman, general practitioner and convicted serial killer (Medicine, 1970)
- Reynhard Sinaga, Indonesian serial rapist and most prolific rapist in British legal history (Human geography)[35]
- George Martin Stephen, high master of St Paul's School, London (English and History)
- Brigadier Mike Stone, Chief Information Officer of the Ministry of Defence
- Marilyn Stowe, divorce lawyer and the first Chief Assessor and Chief Examiner of the Law Society's Family Law Panel (Law, 1970s)
- Cec Thompson, rugby league player and co-founder of Student Rugby League
- Paul Watson, Pohnpei State football team coach (Italian, 2005)
- Sir Ernest Woodroofe, Chairman of Unilever (1970-1974)
The following people have been members of staff at the university:
- Lascelles Abercrombie, poet and literary critic (Professor of English literature, 1923-1929)[21]
- William Astbury, physicist and molecular biologist who made pioneering X-ray diffraction studies of biological molecules (Lecturer/Reader in Textile Physics, 1928-1946, Professor of Biomolecular Physics, 1946–61)[21]
- Manuel Barcia, historian (Professor of Global History)
- Zygmunt Bauman, sociologist
- Maurice Beresford, economic historian, Medieval archaeologist (Economics, 1948-1985)
- Regina Lee Blaszczyk, professor of business history and leadership chair in the history of business and society
- Sir William Henry Bragg, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, chemist (Cavendish Professor of Physics, 1909-1915)[21]
- Asa Briggs, historian
- Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of British Library (University Librarian, 1997-2000)
- Selig Brodetsky (1888–1954), mathematician, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Anthony Carrigan (lecturer in postcolonial literature and cultures, 2013–16)
- Anastasios Christodoulou, Deputy Secretary of Leeds University and Foundation Secretary of the Open University
- Pit Corder, professor and applied linguist (1961-1964)
- David Crighton, mathematician (Mathematics, 1974-1985)[21]
- Norman Greenwood, Australian chemist, and Emeritus Professor
- Geoffrey Hill, poet (English, 1954-1980)
- Geoff Hoon, politician (Law, 1976-1981)
- Jane Ingham, botanist (Research assistant to Joseph Hubert Priestley, 1920-1930)
- Sir Christopher Ingold, chemist
- Benedikt Isserlin, semitist and ancient historian
- Catherine Karkov, art historian
- Susanne Karstedt, criminologist[36]
- Percy Fry Kendall, award-winning geologist (Geology 1904-22)
- Ursula King, scholar of religion and gender
- G. Wilson Knight, literary critic (English)
- Owen Lattimore, pioneer in Chinese studies (Professor of Chinese studies, 1963-1970)[21]
- Irene Manton, botanist and cell biologist (Professor of Biology, 1946-1969)
- David I. Masson, British science-fiction writer (assistant librarian 1938-1939; curator of the Brotherton Collection 1956-1979)
- Duncan McCargo, Professor of Political Science (twice Head of School of Politics and International Studies), 1993-2020
- John Anthony McGuckin, former Reader in Patristic and Byzantine Theology
- Sir Roy Meadow, paediatrician[37]
- Ralph Miliband, political theorist (Professor and Head of Politics department, 1972-1978)[21]
- David Macey, Intellectual historian
- Fred Orton, art historian
- Joseph Hubert Priestley, botanist (Professor of Botany, 1911-1944)[38]
- Sheena Radford, Astbury Professor of Biophysics
- Leonard James Rogers, mathematician (Mathematics 1889-1919)
- James Scott, chair of obstetrics and gynaecology 1961–89
- Wole Soyinka, Nigerian Nobel Prize winner
- J. I. M. Stewart, writer, often under the pen name Michael Innes (English, 1930-1935)
- Philip Thody, writer, editor, translator and Professor of French Literature from 1965 to 1993
- E. P. Thompson, historian (Extramural, 1948-1965)[21]
- J. R. R. Tolkien, writer (English, 1920-1925)[21]
- Stephen Turnbull, military historian
- Philip Wilby, composer, School of Music until 2006
- Fiona Williams, Professor of Social Policy from 1996 to 2012
- Ian N. Wood, historian of the Middle Ages
- Verna Wright, Professor of Rheumatology
- University of Leeds. "Who's been here". Archived from the original on 4 January 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2007.
- "John Battle MP" (PDF). Catholic News. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "Lord Bellwin". The Telegraph. 14 February 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "Candidate: Alan Campbell". Vote 2001. BBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "President Faure announces Cabinet Reshuffle". State House. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- Bonnelame, Betymie (15 March 2017). "Seychelles' cabinet gains 4th female as Minister for Family Affairs is sworn in". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- "Timothy Allen Shares Stunning Images from the BBC's Human Planet". Royal Scottish Geographical Society. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "Prominent alumni - Journalism". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "Crossing Continents: Meet our team of Presenters". BBC News. 28 February 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "The story behind a name on a wall". The Yorkshire Post. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "Prominent alumni - Entertainment". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "A dream holiday job for Jenni, 27". Yorkshire Evening Post. 11 November 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "TEDxEuston | TED". www.ted.com.
- "Prominent alumni - Writing". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "alt-J bond with Mark Wheat and perform stripped-down songs in The Current studio". The Current. Minnesota Public Radio. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "Prominent alumni - Music". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "Synths, glitter and a cosmic disco vibe". The Guardian. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- Wigney, James (3 January 2009). "Fresh Start Just the Ting". Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- "Joanne Yeoh, UPM's violin virtuoso, tempts fans with new After A Dream album". Universiti Putra Malaysia. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- "'Get out there' Doctors actress Laura Rollins on how she bagged the part, tips for actors and more". Mandy News. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- "Kannada Movie/Cinema News - DOCTOR ACTOR SIDDANTH ARRIVES IN VENTURE ?AK 56? - Chitratara.com". chitratara.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- "Prominent alumni – Our heritage". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "Author Biography". A Study Guide for Ngugi wa Thiong'o's "Petals of Blood". Gale, Cengage Learning. 2016. ISBN 9781410355270. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- "Unsung heroine who saved refugees from Nazis honoured in Leeds". The Guardian. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- "Bachelor of Arts". Graduates of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds Calendar. 1906–1907: 375. 1906.
1906 Armstrong, Lilias Eveline
- "Prominent alumni - Science and technology". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "Carlisle engineer has built some of Britain's most beautiful bridges". Cumberland News. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- "Prominent alumni – Science and technology". University of Leeds.
- "Prominent alumni - Sport". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- Sinclair, Emma (17 December 2012). "How Beauty Site MyShowcase Creates Entrepreneurs". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- Wray, Richard (4 April 2008). "From factory floor to Warehouse leader". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- Fisher, George (28 March 2007). "School Tribute To Murdered Lindsay". Sky News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
- "Prominent alumni - Business and industry". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- Willgress, Lydia (22 September 2016). "Fell-runner Lauren Jeska tried to kill British athletics official because she feared the body would revoke her titles over transgender status" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- "Prominent alumni - Government, law and public service". University of Leeds. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- Evans, Martin; Ward, Victoria; Gardner, Bill (6 January 2020). "Reynhard Sinaga named as Britain's worst rapist as police fear he may have attacked up to 200 men" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- "Susanne Karstedt". Griffith University. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- "Profile: Sir Roy Meadow". 10 December 2003 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- Pearsall, William Harold; Scott, Lorna Iris (2 December 1944). "Obituary. Professor J. H. Priestley". Nature. 154 (3918). London: Nature Portfolio: 694–695. Bibcode:1944Natur.154..694P. doi:10.1038/154694a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 3998725. Retrieved 6 December 2021.