Jesus College is one of the
constituent colleges of the
University of Oxford in England. Its alumni include politicians, lawyers, bishops, poets, and academics. Some went on to become
fellows of the college; 14 students later became
principal of the college . It was founded in 1571 by
Queen Elizabeth I , at the request of a Welsh clergyman,
Hugh Price , who was Treasurer of
St David's Cathedral in
Pembrokeshire . The college still has strong links with Wales, and about 15% of students are Welsh. There are 340 undergraduates and 190 students carrying out postgraduate studies. Old members of Jesus College are sometimes known as "Jesubites".
From the world of politics, the college's alumni include two Prime Ministers (Harold Wilson of Britain and Kevin Rudd of Australia), Jamaica's Chief Minister and first Premier (Norman Washington Manley ), a Speaker of the House of Commons (Sir William Williams ), a leader of the Liberal Democrats (Sir Ed Davey ), a co-founder of Plaid Cymru (D. J. Williams ) and a co-founder of the African National Congress (Pixley ka Isaka Seme ). Members of Parliament from the three main political parties in the United Kingdom have attended the college, as have politicians from Australia (Neal Blewett ), New Zealand (Harold Rushworth ), Sri Lanka (Lalith Athulathmudali ) and the United States (Heather Wilson ). The list of lawyers include one Lord Chancellor (Lord Sankey ) and one Law Lord (Lord du Parcq ). The list of clergy includes three Archbishops of Wales (A. G. Edwards , Glyn Simon and Gwilym Williams ). Celticists associated with the college include Sir John Morris-Jones , Sir Thomas (T. H.) Parry-Williams and William John Gruffydd , whilst the list of historians includes the college's first graduate, David Powel , who published the first printed history of Wales in 1584, and the Victorian historian John Richard Green . The list includes a recipient of the Victoria Cross (Angus Buchanan ) and T. E. Lawrence , better known as "Lawrence of Arabia." Yuval Noah Harari , the author of the popular science bestsellers Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2014), Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (2016), and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century (2018) was a student at the college. Record-breaking quadriplegic solo sailor Hilary Lister was also a student there, whilst from the field of arts and entertainment there are names such as Magnus Magnusson , presenter of Mastermind , the National Poet of Wales Gwyn Thomas and television weather presenters Kirsty McCabe and Siân Lloyd .
Because women were barred from studying at Jesus College for over four centuries (from its foundation until 1974), this list of alumni consists almost entirely of men.
Alumni
The sub-headings are given as a general guide and some names might fit under more than one category.
Abbreviations used in the following tables
M – Year of matriculation at Jesus College (a dash indicates that the individual did not matriculate at the college)
G – Year of graduation / conclusion of study at Jesus College (a dash indicates that the individual graduated from another college)
DNG – Did not graduate: left the college without taking a degree
? – Year unknown; an approximate year is used for table-sorting purposes.
(F/P) after name – later became a fellow or principal of Jesus College, and included on the list of principals and fellows
(HF) after name – later became an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, and included on the list of Honorary Fellows
Degree abbreviations
The subject studied and the degree classification are included, where known. Until the early 19th century, undergraduates read for a Bachelor of Arts degree that included study of Latin and Greek texts, mathematics, geometry, philosophy and theology. Individual subjects at undergraduate level were only introduced later: for example, Mathematics (1805), Natural Science (1850), Jurisprudence (1851, although it had been available before this to students who obtained special permission), Modern History (1851) and Theology (1871). Geography and Modern Languages were introduced in the 20th century. Music had been available as a specialist subject before these changes; medicine was studied as a post-graduate subject.
Politicians and civil servants
Harold Wilson , British Prime Minister
Harold Wilson studied at Jesus College from 1934 to 1937, and was later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during two periods (from October 1964 to June 1970, and from March 1974 to April 1976). More than 30 other Members of Parliament have been educated at the college, from Sir John Salusbury who was elected as MP for Denbighshire in 1601 to Theresa Villiers who was elected as MP for Chipping Barnet in 2005. Sir Leoline Jenkins , who became a fellow and later the principal of the college, was Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1680 to 1681 and Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1681 to 1685. Sir William Williams served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1680 to 1685 and as Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1687 to 1689. Evan Cotton was MP for Finsbury East before holding the position of President of the Bengal Legislative Council from 1922 to 1925. Several Welsh politicians have been educated at the college, some representing constituencies in Wales (such as Sir John Wogan , representing Pembrokeshire at various times between 1614 and 1644) and others working outside Parliament, such as D. J. Williams (a co-founder of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru ). Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2020–present, Sir Ed Davey , was also educated at the college.
Other students at the college have held political offices in other countries. Norman Manley was Chief Minister of Jamaica from 1955 to 1959, and served as its first and only Premier from 1959 to 1962 whilst negotiating its independence. In 2017, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd began studying for a doctorate on Xi Jinping at the college. P. T. Rajan was Chief Minister of Madras Presidency between April and August 1936. Heather Wilson was the first Old Member of the college to sit in the United States House of Representatives , where she represented New Mexico's 1st congressional district from 1998 to 2009. The Australian politician Neal Blewett was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1977 to 1994, a Government Minister from 1983 to 1994 and High Commissioner to the UK from 1994 to 1998. Pixley ka Isaka Seme , who studied for a BCL between 1906 and 1909, was one of the founder members of the African National Congress .
Civil servants and diplomats educated at Jesus College include Sir Edgar Vaughan (British Ambassador to Colombia from 1964 to 1966), Gunasena de Soyza (High Commissioner for Ceylon in Britain from 1960 to 1961), Sir Frederick Atkinson (Chief Economic Adviser to HM Treasury from 1977 to 1979), Sir Thomas Williams Phillips (Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour from 1935 to 1944 and Chairman of the War Damage Commission from 1949 to 1959), Eryl Davies (a former Chief Inspector of Schools for Wales), and Christopher Lintrup Paus (a long-time British diplomat in Oslo).
Judges and lawyers
Viscount Sankey
Several prominent judges and lawyers were educated at the college. Viscount Sankey , who was Lord Chancellor from 1929 to 1935, studied for a BA in History and a BCL between 1885 and 1891. Lord du Parcq was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 1946. Sir Richard Richards became Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1817. The Scottish MP and lawyer Lord Murray was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice in 1979. The solicitor Sir David Lewis was Lord Mayor of the City of London from 2007 to 2008. Other lawyers who studied at the college include James Chadwin QC , who defended the Yorkshire Ripper , and Sir Arthur James , who prosecuted the Great Train Robbers and later became a judge of the Court of Appeal . Academic lawyers include J Duncan M Derrett , Professor of Oriental Laws in the University of London from 1965 to 1982, and Alfred Hazel , Reader in English Law at All Souls College, Oxford .
Clergy
At least five former students of Jesus College have become Dean of Bangor Cathedral .
Mallwyd church, where John Davies was rector
Three Archbishops of Wales have studied at Jesus College. A. G. Edwards , the first archbishop of the Church in Wales after its disestablishment, read Literae Humaniores from 1871 to 1874, and was archbishop from 1920 to 1934. Glyn Simon , who was a student from 1922 to 1926, was Archbishop of Wales from 1968 to 1971. He was succeeded by Gwilym Williams , who was archbishop from 1971 to 1982.
Other bishops to have held office in Wales include Francis Davies , Roy Davies , John Harris , and Morgan Owen (who were all Bishops of Llandaff ), Humphrey Humphreys , Daniel Lewis Lloyd and Humphrey Lloyd (who were Bishops of Bangor ), William Lloyd and John Wynne (who were Bishops of St Asaph ), and John Owen and William Thomas (who were Bishops of St David's ). William Havard was a Welsh rugby international before becoming Bishop of St Asaph , then Bishop of St David's .
Former students of the college to have become bishops outside England and Wales include Rowland Ellis (Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney from 1906 to 1911), Richard Meredith (Bishop of Leighlin from 1579 to 1597), and John Rider (Bishop of Killaloe 1612 to 1632). In the twentieth century, bishops to have studied at the college include Kenneth Cragg (assistant Bishop of Jerusalem from 1970 to 1973), John Dickinson (assistant Bishop of Melanesia from 1931 to 1937), Gordon Roe (Bishop of Huntingdon from 1980 to 1997), Alwyn Williams (Bishop of Durham from 1939 to 1952 and Bishop of Winchester from 1952 to 1961), and Clifford Woodward (Bishop of Bristol from 1933 to 1946 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1946 to 1953).
Several former students have been appointed as cathedral deans ; many others became parish priests in Wales and elsewhere in the Anglican church, some also finding time for other activities such as writing poetry or pursuing antiquarian interests. At least five have been Dean of Bangor – Henry Edwards , Henry James , Evan Lewis , John Pryce and James Vincent . Llewelyn Hughes was Dean of Ripon from 1951 to 1967, Alex Wedderspoon was Dean of Guildford from 1987 to 2001, and Wesley Carr was Dean of Westminster Abbey from 1997 to 2006. Edmund Meyrick , who studied at the college between 1656 and 1659, became Treasurer of St David's Cathedral ; his bequest founded the college's Meyrick scholarships for students from North Wales, and scholarships from this fund are still awarded. The lexicographer John Davies of Mallwyd , who translated the Bible into Welsh , studied at the college. In the mid-19th century, some Anglican priests were influenced by John Henry Newman and converted to Roman Catholicism, including David Lewis ; Edmund Ffoulkes converted too, but later went back to Anglicanism, becoming vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford. John David Jenkins , who was Canon of Pietermaritzburg for a time, was later nicknamed the "Rail men's Apostle" for his ministry to railway workers in Oxford. David Thomas , a priest in Gwynedd , was instrumental in the foundation of a Welsh church in the Welsh settlement in Argentina .
Some students have become ministers in other denominations of Christianity. Methodists include David Charles and Christopher Bassett ; Baptists include Gwilym Davies (the first person to broadcast on the radio in Welsh, in 1923); Welsh Presbyterians include William David Davies and Gwilym Edwards ; Unitarians include John Islan Jones ; and Catholics include John Hugh Jones and the Benedictine monk and poet Sylvester Houédard .
Military personnel
T. E. Lawrence , Lawrence of Arabia
Celticists
Sir John Morris-Jones
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Ellis Evans (F/HF)
1952
1954
Graduate scholar
Jesus Professor of Celtic (1978–1996)
R. Geraint Gruffydd (HF)
1948
1953
DPhil
Professor of Welsh at University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1970–1979) and Director of the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (1985–1993)
William John Gruffydd
1899
1903
BA English (2nd) (3rd in Classics Honour Mods )
Professor of Celtic at the University of Wales, Cardiff (1918–1946) (succeeding Thomas Powel , below); Liberal MP for the University of Wales constituency (1943–1950)
William Henry Harris
1910
1913
BA Theology (1913, 2nd), BLitt (1913)
Precentor , canon and treasurer of St David's Cathedral ; also professor of theology briefly before becoming professor of Welsh at St David's College, Lampeter
George Henderson
1896
1899 ?
BLitt
Gaelic scholar and Church of Scotland minister, who became a lecturer in Celtic at the University of Glasgow
John Jenkins
1787 ?
—
—
Welsh priest and antiquarian, known as Ifor Ceri , who helped to establish eisteddfodau in Wales in the early nineteenth century; graduated from Merton College
Bedwyr Lewis Jones
1956
1959 ?
?
Professor of Welsh at the University of Wales, Bangor
John Jones
1814
1818
BA Mathematics (2nd)
Welsh clergyman and scholar (bardic name Ioan Tegid ), who transcribed the Red Book of Hergest for Lady Charlotte Guest
Henry Lewis
1910 ?
1912 ?
?
Professor of Welsh at University College, Swansea (1921–1954)
John Lloyd-Jones
1907
1909 ?
BLitt
First Professor of Welsh at the National University of Ireland, Dublin
Derec Llwyd Morgan (F/HF)
1964
1969
DPhil
Professor of Welsh (1989–1995) then vice-chancellor and principal (1995–2004), University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Sir John Morris-Jones (F)
1883
1888
BA Mathematics (3rd, 1887), then research in Welsh
Professor of Welsh at University College of North Wales, Bangor (1895–1929), who had been awarded a one-year scholarship for research in Welsh with John Rhys
John Owen
1872
1876
BA Mathematics (2nd) (2nd in Mods in Classics and in Mathematics)
Professor of Welsh (1879–1889) and principal (1892–1897) at St David's College , Lampeter before becoming Bishop of St David's (1897–1926)
Sir Thomas (T. H.) Parry-Williams (HF)
1909
1911
BLitt
Professor of Welsh at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1920–1952)
Thomas Powel
1869
1872
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd)
Professor of Celtic at University College, Cardiff (1884–1918) (succeeded by William John Gruffydd , above)
Llywarch Reynolds
1868
1875
BA
Welsh solicitor and Celtic scholar; many of the antiquarian manuscripts he collected are now held by the National Library of Wales
Sir John Rhys (HF/F/P)
1865
1869
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
First Jesus Professor of Celtic (1877–1915)
Evan Thomas
1891
1895
BA Theology (2nd)
Professor of Welsh at St David's College, Lampeter (1903–1915), where he helped to revive the position of Welsh in the college and curriculum
John Williams
1832
1838
BA Mathematics (4th, 1835), MA (1838)
Priest and Welsh scholar (bardic name Ab Ithel ), who edited Y Gododdin and completed Aneurin Owen's edition of Annales Cambriae
Classicists and archeologists
John Garstang
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
William Boyd Dawkins (HF)
1854
1860
BA Natural Science (1st)
Geologist and archeologist
John Craig
1908
1912
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Firth Professor of Latin at the University of Sheffield (1930–1952)
Percy Dodd (F)
1907
1911
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Lecturer at Leeds University then a college fellow; career cut short by ill-health
Edward Edwards
1743
1747
BA
Cleric, with a particular interest in Xenophon 's Memorabilia
Thomas Iorwerth Ellis
1920
1923
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd)
Academic at University College, Swansea , St David's College, Lampeter and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth ; secretary of the New Wales Union for 25 years; publications included a biography of his father T. E. Ellis
Sir Emrys Evans
1913
1915 ?
BLitt
First professor of classics at Swansea University , later principal of University College, Bangor
John Garstang (HF)
1895
1899
BA Mathematics (3rd)
Archeologist
Harold Arthur Harris
1921
1925
BA English (1st) (1st in Classics Honour Mods )
Professor of Classics at St David's College, Lampeter (1934–1968)
Barri Jones
1955
1963
BA Literae Humaniores ; DPhil
Classical scholar and archaeologist
Griffith Hartwell Jones
1879
1883
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Professor of Latin at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire , Cardiff , chairman of both the National Eisteddfod Association and the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Terence Mitford
1923 ?
1927 ?
BA Literae Humaniores
Archeologist at the University of St Andrews , with a particular interest in Cyprus; an officer in the Special Air Service during the Second World War
Percy Seymour (F)
1910 ?
1912
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Australian classicist, and college bursar (1930–1935)
John Strugnell
1947
1954
BA Literae Humaniores , MA Oriental Languages
Dead Sea Scrolls scholar, and Professor of Christian Origins at Harvard Divinity School
Geographers, geologists and cartographers
St Alban Hall , to which John Evans transferred after his matriculation at Jesus College
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
J. N. L. Baker (F)
1913
1922
BA Modern History (1920), Diploma in Geography (1921), BLitt
Geographer, with particular interest in the history of geography, College Bursar and geography tutor, and author of Jesus College 1571–1971
John Evans
1773
—
—
Transferred to St Alban Hall ; a Welsh surgeon and cartographer , who reprinted his father's celebrated maps of North Wales and later produced his own edition
James Fairgrieve
1891
1895
BA Mathematics (2nd)
Human geographer and educator
John House
1937
1940
BA Geography (2nd)
Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at Oxford (1974–1983)
Henry Yule Oldham
1882
1886
BA Natural Science (Animal Morphology) (2nd)
Geographer who conducted the definitive version of the Bedford Level experiment in 1901, proving that the earth was a sphere
Robert Steel (F/HF)
1934
1937
BA Geography (1st)
Professor of geography at the University of Liverpool (1957–1974), then principal of the University College of Swansea (1974–1982)
David Williams
1810
1814
BA
Anglican priest in Bleadon , Somerset and geologist who wrote extensively of the geology of the west of England
Historians and antiquarians
John Richard Green
Sir Thomas Herbert
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Warren Ault (HF)
1907
1910
BA Modern History (2nd)
One of the college's first two Rhodes Scholars ; taught history at Boston University from 1913 to 1957, becoming Huntington Professor of History
Theo Barker
1941
1948
BA Modern History (1st)
Social and economic historian, who was a professor at the University of Kent and the London School of Economics
James Burke
1957
1961
BA English (3rd)
Science historian
George Wingrove Cooke
1830
1834
BA Literae Humaniores (4th)
Barrister and historian, whose first book (Memoirs of Lord Bolingbroke ) was written whilst Cooke was an undergraduate
William Cronon
1976
1978
DPhil
Historian of environmental change, Bancroft Prize winner and MacArthur Fellow who completed his doctorate in unusually short time of two years
Sir Goronwy Edwards (F/HF)
1909
1913
BA Modern History (1st)
Welsh historian who become Director of the Institute of Historical Research and Professor of History at the University of London
John Ellis (F)
1690
1696
BA (1693), MA (1696)
Welsh cleric and antiquarian
Richard Ellis
1898
1902
BA
Assistant librarian of the National Library of Wales , whose main research interest was the life and work of Edward Lhuyd
Thomas Ellis (F)
1640
1646
BA (1644), MA (1646)
Welsh clergyman and historian
Richard Evans (HF)
1966
1969
BA Modern History (1st)
Historian, specialising in modern German history, who was principal defence expert witness for Deborah Lipstadt when she was sued for libel by David Irving
Richard Farrington
1720
1724
BA
Welsh priest and antiquarian, with a particular interest in Caernarfonshire ; Chancellor of Bangor Cathedral
Albert Goodwin (F)
1924
1928
BA Modern History (1st)
Professor of Modern History at the University of Manchester
John Richard Green (HF)
1856
1859
Pass degree
Historian, author of A History of the English people (four volumes)
Sir John Rigby Hale (F/HF)
1945
1948
BA Modern History (1st) (top of year)
Historian of the Renaissance
Yuval Noah Harari
1999
2002
DPhil
Historian, author of the popular science bestsellers Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2014), Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (2016), and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century (2018).
Sir Thomas Herbert, 1st Baronet
1622 ?
DNG
—
Gentleman of the bedchamber to Charles I , who wrote an account of the last two years of the king's life entitled Threnodia Carolina
Edward Ernest Hughes
1899 ?
1902
BA Modern History (2nd)
The first Professor of History at University College, Swansea (1926–1944)
Colin Jones
1967 ?
1971
BA Modern History and Modern Languages (French)
Professor of History at Queen Mary, University of London since 2006
John Jones
1804
1808
?
Cleric in Caernarfonshire and antiquarian
Maldwyn Jones
1946
1949
BA Modern History (1st)
Commonwealth Professor of American History , University College, London (1971–1988)
John Lloyd
1753
1757
BA
Cleric (at Caerwys and Nannerch ) and antiquarian
John Le Patourel
1928
1933
BA Modern History (1st, 1931), DPhil (
Professor of Medieval History at the University of Leeds (1945–1970), with a particular interest in the history of the Channel Islands
John Duncan Mackie
1904
1908
BA Modern History (1st)
Professor of Scottish History and Literature , University of Glasgow (1930–1957) and Historiographer Royal (appointed in 1957)
John Mason
1938
1947
BA Modern History (1st)
Studies interrupted by war service; Student (i.e. Fellow) of Christ Church, Oxford 1957–1987; historian of the Norman Conquest and of his home town of Bridgnorth , Shropshire
John Morris
1932
1935
BA Modern History (2nd)
Lecturer in Ancient History at University College, London
Nicholas Owen
1769
1776
BA (1773), MA (1776)
Welsh Anglican clergyman and antiquarian
Glen O'Hara
1993
1997
BA Modern History (1st, 1996), MSc Economic and Social History (Distinction, 1997)
Senior Lecturer in Modern History, Oxford Brookes University
Henry Parry
1786
1790
BA
Welsh cleric and antiquarian
William Parry (F)
1706
1712
BA (1709), MA (1712), BD (1719)
Antiquarian and rector of Shipston-on-Stour , Warwickshire
John Pettingall
1725
1728
BA
Antiquarian and priest
Albert Pollard (HF)
1887
1891
BA Modern History (1st) (2nd in Classics Honour Mods )
Captain of Boats whilst at college; a historian, particularly of Henry VIII , and former Assistant Editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
David Powel
1571 ?
1576
BA (1573), MA (1576), BTh and DTh (1583)
Matriculation college unknown, but moved to Jesus on its foundation and thought to be the first person to graduate from Jesus; published The Historie of Cambria, now called Wales , the first printed history of Wales (1584)
Rice Rees (F)
1822
1828
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd, 1826), MA (1826)
Cleric and author of The Welsh Saints (1836)
Henry Rice
1607
1607
BA
Matriculated 10 days before graduation; a gentleman at the court of King Charles I , whose writings included a Life of Sir Rhys ap Thomas , one of his ancestors
William Rider
—
1745
BA
Matriculated from St Mary Hall before transferring to the college; a cleric and writer, whose 50-volume work A New History of England was later described as one of the vilest Grub Street compilations ever published
Susobhan Sarkar
1923
1925
BA Modern History (1st)
Indian historian, who was Professor of History at Presidency College, Calcutta (1932–1956), Jadavpur University (1956–1961) and Calcutta University (1961–1967)
David Thomas
1852
1856
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd)
Canon of St Asaph and Archdeacon of Montgomery ; wrote History of the Diocese of St Asaph , the first such history of a Welsh diocese
John Thomas
1755
1758
BA
Welsh cleric and antiquarian, who collected and transcribed manuscripts, and wrote a History of the Island of Anglesey (1775); elder brother of Richard Thomas , who also attended the college
Richard Thomas
1771
1775
BA
Welsh cleric and antiquarian, who collected and transcribed manuscripts; younger brother of John Thomas , who also attended the college
Arthur Wade-Evans
1893
1896
BA
Historian of early Britain, the Celtic church and medieval Welsh law
Thomas Wilkins
1641
1661
? (Law)
Welsh cleric and antiquarian, from whose collection of manuscripts the Red Book of Hergest was donated to the college after his death
Alfred Wood
1919
1923
BA Modern History (1st, 1921), BLitt (1923)
Professor of History at the University of Nottingham (1951–1960)
William Wynne (F)
1688
1691
BA
Welsh cleric who wrote a History of Wales (1697), a revised version of David Powel 's history; younger brother of the priest Robert Wynne
Language and literature academics
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Fred Bachrach
1948
1951 ?
DPhil
Dutch art and literature academic
William Brice
1939
1946
BA Geography (1st)
Studies interrupted by war service; an ethnographer and linguist who worked on Linear A
Angus Cameron
1961
1968
BA (1963), BLitt (1968)
Canadian Rhodes Scholar , who lectured at Mount Allison University after achieving his BA before returning for a post-graduate degree, his thesis being entitled "Old English nouns of colour: a semantic study"; a lexicographer of Old English and a professor at the University of Toronto
J. P. Collas
1929
1934
BA French (1st, 1932), BLitt (1934)
Norman-French scholar and Professor of French at Queen Mary College, London (1953–1976), regarded as one of the leading philologists of his generation
John Fleming
1958
1961
BA English (2nd)
Former Professor of English at Princeton University
Andrew Goatly
1969
1972
BA English (2nd)
Professor of English at Lingnan University , Hong Kong
Stephen Thomas Knight
1959
1962
BA English (2nd)
Professor of English at Cardiff University with a particular interest in medieval literature, Robin Hood and King Arthur
Reuben Levy
1912
1914
BA Oriental Studies (2nd)
Professor of Persian at the University of Cambridge
Meirion Pennar
1965 ?
1968 ?
DPhil
Welsh literature academic and poet
Graham Pollard
1921
1924
BA Modern History (3rd)
Bookseller and bibliographer; Reader in Bibliography at the University of Oxford (1961)
Richard Sayce
1934
1937
BA French and German (1st)
Reader in French Literature at Oxford, and a Fellow of Worcester College
William Davies Thomas
1911
1913
BA English (1st)
Professor of English at the University of Saskatchewan (1919–1921), and the first Professor of English language and literature at University College, Swansea (1921–1954)
Leslie Walton
1918
1926
BA Spanish (1st) (1920), BLitt (1926)
Forbes Reader in Spanish at the University of Edinburgh , head of the Department of Hispanic Studies
Philosophers and theologians
The St David's Building at the University of Wales, Lampeter , where Paul Badham was appointed a professor in 1991
The Samuel Wadsworth Russell House at Wesleyan University , home to the Philosophy department, where Philip Hallie was a professor from 1965 to 1988
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Paul Badham
1962
1965
BA Theology (2nd)
Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter since 1991
J. E. Daniel
1919
1925
BA Literae Humaniores (1924, 1st), BA Theology (1925, 1st)
Welsh theologian (a professor at Bala-Bangor Theological Seminary ) who was also chairman of Plaid Cymru (1939–1943)
William David Davies
1915
1923 ?
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd, 1921), BA Theology (1st, 1922), BD
Welsh Presbyterian minister who was the first Welsh non-conformist to obtain a BD from Oxford, and who turned down a university tutorship in theology since it required membership of the Church of England; Professor of the history of religions and the philosophy of religion at the United Theological College Aberystwyth (1928–1933)
Walter Evans-Wentz
1907
1909 ?
BSc in Folklore
Anthropologist and writer who made a particular study of Tibetan Buddhism
S. H. Hooke (HF)
1907
1912
BA Theology 1910 (1st), BA Oriental Languages (2nd)
Biblical scholar, who was Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of London
Hywel Lewis (HF)
1933
1935
BLitt
Welsh philosopher and theologian, who was Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion at the University of London (1955–1977)
Henry Maurice (F)
1664
1668
BA (1668), MA (1671), BD (1679), DD (1683)
Treasurer of Chichester Cathedral , who was elected Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford shortly before his death in 1691
Huw Owen
1944
1949
BA Theology (2nd)
Welsh Presbyterian minister, who was Professor of Christian Doctrine at King's College London (1971–1983)
Robert Owen (F)
1838
1845
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd, 1842), MA (1845), BD (1852)
Theologian and antiquarian, who wrote An Introduction to the Study of Dogmatic Theology and Institutes of Canon Law but who was forced to resign his fellowship after an allegation of immorality
Philip Hallie
1949
1951
BLitt
Fulbright Scholar from the United States; William Griffin Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Wesleyan University (1965–1988)
Griffith Powell (F/P)
1581
1593
BA (1584), MA (1589), BCL
Aristotelian philosopher
Clement Rogers
1885
1889
BA Theology (2nd)
Professor of Pastoral Theology at King's College, London (1919–1932)
Cecil Weir
1927 ?
1930
DPhil
Theologian who was Professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages, Glasgow at the University of Glasgow (1937–1968)
Mathematics, medicine and science
Nigel Hitchin
Mathematicians to have studied at Jesus College include Nigel Hitchin (Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford since 1997), the Canadian Jonathan Borwein and Jim Mauldon (who taught at Oxford before moving to the United States to teach at Amherst College , Massachusetts ). David E. Evans is Professor of Mathematics at Cardiff University , and H. W. Lloyd Tanner was Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at one of its predecessor institutions, the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire . Several noted individuals from biology, botany and zoology were educated at the college, including the Welsh clergyman Hugh Davies (whose Welsh Botanology of 1813 cross-referenced the Welsh-language and the scientific names of plants), Edward Bagnall Poulton (Professor of Zoology at Oxford) and James Brontë Gatenby (Professor of Zoology at Trinity College, Dublin ). Frank Greenaway was Keeper of the Department of Chemistry at the Science Museum in London for over 20 years, and the physicist Chris Rapley was appointed director of the museum in 2007. Other physicists who are Old Members of the college include Michael Woolfson (a former Professor of Physics at the University of York ) and Edward Hinds (whose work on ultra-cold matter won him the Rumford Medal of the Royal Society in 2008). Edwin Stevens , who studied Natural Science at the college, went on to design the world's first wearable hearing aid, and Sir Graham Sutton became director-general of the Meteorological Office .
Other academics
The memorial stone to Henry Foulkes in the college chapel
The memorial stone to Francis Mansell in the college chapel
Thomas Pardo , Principal of Jesus College (1727–1763), and also Chancellor of St David's Cathedral (1749–1753)
John Tudno Williams
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
John Adair
1969 ?
1971
BLitt
Author and academic on leadership studies; Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Surrey (1979–1984); visiting professor at the University of Exeter (1990–2000); Honorary Professor of Leadership at the China Executive Leadership Academy in Pudong since 2006
Henry Bould (F)
1621
1624
BA (1621), MA (1624)
Named as one of the founding scholars in the college's charter (1622); Fellow (1623–1628)
Joseph Clearihue
1911
1914
BA Jurisprudence (2nd, 1913), BCL (3rd, 1914)
Canadian Rhodes scholar , who later became a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and a county court judge; also chairman of the council of Victoria College, British Columbia (which became the University of Victoria under his leadership)
Sir Goronwy Daniel (HF)
1937
1940
DPhil
Permanent Under-Secretary of the Welsh Office (1964–1969), Principal of University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1969–1979)
Walter Jenkin Evans
1875 ?
1878
BA
Principal of Carmarthen Presbyterian College (1888–1927)
Robert Gentilis
—
1603
BA
Academic and translator who matriculated from Christ Church at the age of eight, graduated at the age of twelve and became a Fellow of All Souls at seventeen; eldest son of Alberico Gentili , the Italian jurist and Regius Professor of Civil Law
Lewis Gilbertson (F)
1833
1839
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd, 1836), MA (1839), BD (1847)
Vicar in parishes in Cardiganshire , and also served as Vice-Principal
Joseph Hoare (F/P)
1727
1733
BA (1730), MA
Prebend of Westminster Abbey ; died after being scratched by his cat
David Hughes (F/P)
1770
1776
BA (1773), MA (1776), BD (1783), DD (1790)
Principal (1802–1817)
Henry Foulkes (F/P)
1790
1797
BA (1794), MA (1797), BD (1804), DD (1817)
Principal for 40 years (1817–1857)
Francis Heiser
1903 ?
1907
BA Theology (2nd)
Principal of Fourah Bay College , Sierra Leone (1920–1922), Principal of St Aidan's Theological College, Birkenhead (1929–1950)
Wilfred Hinton
1908 ?
1910 ?
BA
Professor of Political Economy at the University of Hong Kong (1913–1929), Director of Studies for the Institute of Bankers (1929–1949), and an expert in Far Eastern international affairs
George Howells
1895 ?
1898 ?
BLitt
Principal of Serampore College , India (1907–1932)
Gwilliam Iwan Jones
1923
1926
BA Modern History (2nd)
Colonial civil servant who photographed life in Nigeria in the 1930s, later becoming an anthropologist and Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge
Maurice Jones (F/HF)
1882
1886
BA Divinity (1st, 1886), BD (1907), DD (1914)
Welsh clergyman and principal of St David's College, Lampeter (1923–1938)
Thomas Jones
1827
1832
BA
Librarian of Chetham's Library , Manchester (1845–1875)
William Jones (F/P)
1694
1700
BA (1697), MA (1700), BD (1708), DD (1720)
Principal (1720–1725)
Deepak Lal
1960
1965
BA PPE (1962), BPhil (Economics, 1965)
Development economist ; James S. Coleman Professor of International Development Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles since 1991
Llewelyn Lewellin
1818
1827
BA Literae Humaniores (1st, 1822), MA (1824), BCL (1827), DCL (1829)
First Principal of St David's College, Lampeter (1828–1878), also Dean of St David's (1843–1878)
Harold Loukes
1930
1934
BA English (1st)
Taught at the University of Delhi before spending 30 years in the Department of Education at Oxford, most of them as Reader in Education
Francis Mansell (P)
1607
1611
BA (1609), MA (1611)
Elected a Fellow of All Souls in 1613; Principal of Jesus College on three occasions
Rupert Morris
1861
1865
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Principal of Carmarthen Training College (1869–1876), headmaster of Godolphin School (1876–1884); clergyman and antiquarian
Humphrey Owen (F/P)
1718
1733
BA (1722), MA (1725), BD (1733), DD (1763)
Bodley's Librarian (1747–1768)
Thomas Pardo (F/P)
1707
1711
BA (1708), MA (1711), BD (1719), DD (1727)
Chancellor of St David's (1749–1753)
David Parry
1701
1708
BA (1705), MA (1708)
Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum (1709–1714)
John Price
1754
1760
BA (1757), MA (1760), BD (1768)
Bodley's Librarian for 45 years (1768–1813)
Theodore Price (F)
1586 ?
1591
BA (1588), MA (1591)
Prebend of Westminster Abbey and principal of Hart Hall, Oxford
Robert Rowthorn
1957 ?
1962 ?
BA Mathematics (1st), BPhil Economics
Professor of Economics at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of King's College, Cambridge (1991–2006)
Robert Skidelsky, Baron Skidelsky (HF)
1958
1965
BA Modern History (2nd, 1961), DPhil Social Studies
Economist and biographer of John Maynard Keynes
Sir Ben Bowen Thomas (HF)
1920
1922
BA Modern History (2nd)
Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Department of the Department of Education (1945–1963), President of University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1964–1975)
John Lloyd Thomas
1930
1932
BA Theology (2nd)
Principal of St David's College, Lampeter (1953–1975)
Llewellyn Thomas (F)
1860
1865
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd)
Welsh cleric, poet and scholar, who was the college's Welsh reader, senior tutor and vice-principal
David Williams
1898 ?
1903
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd, 1902), BA Theology (2nd, 1903)
Welsh Calvinistic Methodist minister and professor at the United Theological College Aberystwyth
John Tudno Williams
1957
1960
BA Theology (2nd)
Lecturer, then principal (1998–2003) of the United Theological College Aberystwyth , and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Wales (2006–2007)
William Christopher Wordsworth
1899 ?
1903
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Professor of political economy (and later principal) of the Presidency College , Calcutta , who was also a journalist for The Statesman and The Times
Educators
Herbert Armitage James
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Alan Aldous
1942
1948
BA English (2nd)
Headmaster of Leeds Grammar School (1970–1975)
Edward Barnwell
1830
1834
BA Mathematics (1st)
Headmaster of Ruthin School (1839–1865), succeeding Charles Williams
Edmund Brice
1648
1650
BA
Translator and schoolmaster, and follower of the Christian mystic John Pordage
John Caldicott
—
1851
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd, 1851), BA Mathematics (3rd, 1851), BD and DD (1874)
Matriculated from Pembroke College ; Anglican priest and headmaster of Bristol Grammar School
J. R. Cohu (F)
1876
1880
BA Literae Humaniores (1st, 1880), MA (1883)
Headmaster, clergyman and writer on biblical topics
William Weekes Fowler
—
1873
BA
Matriculated at New College before transferring to Jesus with a scholarship; a clergyman, headmaster (of Lincoln School) and entomologist who was President of the Incorporated Association of Head Masters and President of the Entomological Society of London
Daniel Harper (F/P)
1840
1844
BA Mathematics (1st)
Headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School (1847–1850) and Sherborne School (1851–1877)
John Haycraft
1948
1951
BA Modern History (2nd)
English language teacher and founder of International House World Organisation
Herbert Armitage James
1863
—
—
Transferred to Lincoln College when he won a scholarship in 1864; later headmaster of Rugby School and President of St John's College, Oxford
Robert James
1924
1928
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Son of Henry James , Dean of Bangor ; High Master of St Paul's School (1946–1953) and Headmaster of Harrow School (1953–1971)
Harold Littler
1907 ?
1910
BA Modern History (2nd)
Anglican priest and headmaster of Sir William Turner's School, Coatham
Daniel Lewis Lloyd
1862
1867
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd) (1867), MA (1871)
Headmaster of Dolgelley Grammar School , Friars School, Bangor and Christ College, Brecon ; later Bishop of Bangor
Edward Owen
1746
1752
BA (1749), MA (1752)
Welsh priest and translator, who was headmaster of the grammar school in Warrington
Owen Owen
1873
1877
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd)
Headmaster in Oswestry who became the first Chief Inspector of the Central Welsh Board for Intermediate Education
Morgan Phillips
1907 ?
1911
?
Headmaster of Ruthin School (1930–1935)
Owen Price
1649
—
—
Graduated from Christ Church, Oxford ; Master of Magdalen College School, Oxford and writer of educational books
Ernest Salter Davies
1891
1895
BA Literae Humaniores
Director of Education for Kent for 20 years and writer on educational matters
Thomas Thomas
1824
1827
BA
Welsh cleric ("Thomas of Caernarfon") who helped to found schools in Caernarfon; the father of Llewellyn Thomas
James Vincent
1735
1739
BA
Welsh cleric and schoolteacher, who was Master of the Friars School , Bangor ; grandfather of James Vincent , who also attended the college
Charles Williams (F/P)
1823
1827
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Headmaster of Ruthin School (1831–1839), Principal (1857–1877)
John Williams (F)
1777
1783
BA (1781), MA
Cleric in north Wales and master of the Free school in Llanrwst (1790–1812)
Peter Bailey Williams
1785
1790 —
—
Cleric in north Wales whose Sunday school in Llanrug was the first in the county; graduated from Christ Church in 1790
Robert Dewi Williams
1892 ?
1896 ?
BA
Headmaster of Clynnog Fawr School, which moved to become Clwyd College, Rhyl ; a Presbyterian minister and writer
Artists and writers
John Blackwell
Thomas Jones
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Tom Becker
1998
2001 ?
BA Modern History
Won the 2007 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for his first novel, Darkside
John Blackwell
1824
1828
BA
Welsh poet and writer, using the bardic name Alun
William Boyd (HF)
1975
1978
DPhil
Novelist and screenwriter; left college accommodation and started work in 1978 when grant ran out, and has said "I never really left Jesus – I sort of drifted away."
Alan Brien
1943
1950
BA English Literature (2nd)
Journalist and critic, author of Lenin ; whilst at college, produced a film (Our College ) commissioned by the Jesus College Record as a gesture of thanks to an American university that had sent a food parcel
William Lucas Collins
1833
1840
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd, 1838), MA (1840)
Clergyman and contributor to Blackwood's Magazine
John Davies
1641
DNG
—
Moved to St John's College, Cambridge during the English Civil War ; a translator of works in French, Spanish and Latin who also wrote an account of the Civil War
James Davis
1723
1732
BA (1726), MA (1729), BM (1732)
Physician and satirist
David Ellis
1794
DNG
—
Welsh clergyman, poet and transcriber of manuscripts, who was at the college from March to June 1794
Daniel Evans (F)
1810
1817
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd, 1814), MA (1817), BD (1824)
Welsh poet, known as Daniel Ddu o Geredigion
John Evans
1789
1792
BA
Wrote four works about the topography of Wales
Thomas Floyd
1589 –
1599
MA (1596), BCL (1599)
Matriculated (1589) and BA (1593) from New Inn Hall, Oxford before moving to Jesus College; author of The picture of a perfit common wealth, describing as well the offices of princes and inferior magistrates over their subjects, as also the duties of subjects towards their governors (1600)
Gwyneth Glyn
1999
2002
BA Philosophy and Theology (1st)
Singer and poet, Welsh Children's Bard (2006–2007)
Sylvester Houédard
1941
1949
?
Studies interrupted by war service; a Benedictine monk and poet (known as "dom silvester houédard" or "dsh")
James Howell
1610
1613
BA
Writer (notably of Dodona's Grove )
Philip Hubbard
1929
1933
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Author of 16 novels and two books for children; winner of the Newdigate Prize for English verse (1933)
Edward Hughes
1794
1800
BA (1797), MA (1800)
Welsh poet (bardic name Y Dryw ), who won prizes at the Denbigh Eisteddfodau of 1819 and 1828
Thomas Rowland Hughes
1928
1931
BLitt
Welsh novelist, whose thesis was entitled "The London Magazine from 1820 to 1829"
John Jenkins
1905
1908
BA Theology (2nd) (1908), DLitt (1932)
Welsh poet (bardic name Gwili ) and theologian; Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales (1932–1936)
Brian John
1959
1965
BA Geography (2nd, 1962), DPhil
Author of the historical-fiction series Angel Mountain Saga , whose DPhil was on the Ice Age in Wales
Thomas Jones
1759
DNG
—
Left in 1761 to become a painter on the death of his uncle, at whose instigation he was studying for ordination
Tobias Jones
1992
1995
BA Modern History and English (1st)
Author (of The Dark Heart of Italy ) and journalist
David Lewis
1698
1702
BA
Poet, whose collections of poetry also included works by Alexander Pope and John Dyer
Evan Lloyd
1751
1757
BA (1754), MA (1757)
Satirical poet, whose works led to his imprisonment and hampered his career in the church
Owen Martell
1998
1999
Meyricke Graduate Scholarship
Welsh author, translator, musician. Recipient of the . Winner 2001 Welsh Book of the Year Award for Cadw dy ffydd, brawd, (Strong and Prophetic; Gomer, 2000). Second novel, Dyn yr Eiliad (The Other Man; Gomer, 2003), short-listed in 2004. Dolenni Hud (Welsh Knot; Gomer, 2008) short stories in collaboration with photographer Simon Proffitt (another Jesus Alumnus). Translated Martin Crimp's Attempts on Her Life , (produced Sherman Cymru theatre, Cardiff, 2009). Third novel Intermission (Heinemann, 2013), written in English (has been translated into French, German and Spanish). He was co-editor of the Welsh-language review of books, O’r Pedwar Gwynt.
Roland Mathias
1933
1939
BA Modern History (1st, 1936), BLitt
Welsh poet, short story writer and editor of The Anglo-Welsh Review (1961–1976), whose BLitt thesis was entitled "The Economic Policy of the Board of Trade 1696–1714"
Dom Moraes
1956
1959
BA English (3rd)
Indian writer , poet and columnist
John Morgan
1704
1708
BA
Clergyman and poet (who was known as John Morgan Matchin after his appointment to a position in Matching, Essex ) and author of Myfyrdodau bucheddol ar y pedwar peth diweddaf ('Devout musings on the four last things') (1714)
Sir Lewis Morris (HF)
1851
1856
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Anglo-Welsh poet, who was the first student to obtain 1st in Classics in both Mods and Finals for 30 years
Arthur Nortje
1965
1967
BA English
South African poet, who returned to the college to study for a BPhil but died in 1970 before completing the course
Goronwy Owen
1742
DNG
—
Welsh poet who was hardly resident at the college
`
Philip Palmer
1979
1982 ?
BA English
British science fiction writer
Henry Perry
1579 –
1583
MA (1583), BTh (1597)
Initially a member of Balliol College ; a Welsh priest and writer
Edward Pierce
1650
1657
BA (1655), MA (1657)
Welsh clergyman and satirist
Angharad Price
1990
1997 ?
BA, DPhil (Modern Languages)
Prize-winning Welsh novelist and lecturer at Bangor University
Rhys Prichard
1597
1602
BA
Welsh poet and clergyman, known as Yr Hen Ficer ("The Old Vicar"), and author of Canwyll y Cymry ("The Welshmen's Candle")
William Rees
1889
1892
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Welsh priest and writer
David Richards
1774
DNG
—
Welsh poet (bardic name Dafydd Ionawr ) and schoolmaster, who only spent one term at the college
Thomas Richards
1708
1711
BA
Canon of St Asaph's Cathedral , who was also a writer and satirist
John Roberts
1792
1796
BA
Welsh cleric and writer
Erasmus Saunders
1690
1696
BA (1693), MA (1696), BD (1705), DD (1712)
Welsh priest and writer
Francesca Simon
1977
1980 ?
BA Old English Language and Literature
American author of the Horrid Henry series of books
Charles Symmons
—
1794
DD
Welsh priest and writer; a graduate of the University of Cambridge who was incorporated at Oxford in order to take his DD after being involved in controversy at Cambridge
Gwyn Thomas
1959
1966
DPhil
Welsh poet, appointed National Poet of Wales in 2006
Nathaniel Thomas
1747
1750 ?
BA
Welsh writer; editor and proprietor of the St James's Chronicle in London, and editor of Robert Ainsworth 's Latin Dictionary
Len Tyler
1971
1974 ?
BA Geography
Crime writer
Henry Vaughan
1641?
DNG
—
Welsh poet and doctor; college records unclear on entry date
Thomas Vaughan
1638
1646/7
BA (1642), graduate scholar until 1646/1647
Welsh clergyman, poet and writer
William Vaughan
1592
1605
BA (1595), MA (1597), BCL (1600), DCL
Welsh writer and colonial investor
John Walters
1777
1781
BA
Welsh clergyman and poet
Hugh Williams
1740
1744
BA
Welsh clergyman and writer
Morris Williams
1832
1835
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Welsh writer (bardic name Nicander ) and clergyman
Nathaniel Williams
1672
1676
BA
Welsh writer whose works include A Pindaric Elegy on the famous Physician Dr. Willis
William Wynn
1727
1735
BA (1730), MA (1735)
Welsh cleric and poet
Ellis Wynne
1692
1695 ?
BA, possibly MA too, possibly in Law
Welsh clergyman and writer, particularly remembered for Gweledigaetheu y Bardd Cwsc ("Visions of the Sleeping Bard")
Edwin Yoder (HF)
1956
1958
BA PPE (2nd)
American Rhodes Scholar , winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing (1979)
Broadcasters and entertainers
Siân Lloyd
William Terriss
Musicians
Norwich Cathedral , where Michael Nicholas was organist and master of choristers for 23 years
Sports people
The Wales team for the first Welsh international rugby match in 1881, with Aneurin Rees seated on the far left of the middle row
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref.
Tony Ambrose
1951
1954
BA Natural Science (Engineering, 4th)
British rally driver who was given a red MG sports car by his father for winning a scholarship to the college
Ranjit Bhatia
1957
1959
BA Mathematics (3rd)
Indian athlete who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics (marathon and 5000 metres )
Trevor Brewer
1948
1952
BA Chemistry (2nd)
Welsh rugby union international , winning three caps (1950–1955); rugby "Blue " in 1951
Bailey Davies
1905
1908
BA Mathematics (3rd)
Welsh rugby union international , winning one cap (1907); rugby "Blue " three times (1905–1907)
Jenkin Alban Davies
1906 ?
1909
BA Theology (3rd)
Welsh rugby union international , winning seven caps (1913–1914); did not win a "Blue "
Sir David William Evans
1885
1888
?
Welsh rugby union international , winning five caps (1899–1891); rugby "Blue " twice (1887 and 1888); later became a solicitor and was knighted for public services to Wales
Walter Rice Evans
1887
1890 ?
?
Welsh rugby union international , winning three caps (1890–1891); rugby "Blue " in 1890
William Frederick Evans
1876
1883
BA Theology (3rd, 1880), MA (1883)
Welsh rugby union international , winning two caps (1882 and 1883); did not win a "Blue "
Arthur Evanson
1880
1884
BA (1884), MA (1887)
English rugby union international , winning four caps (1882–1884); the college's first rugby "Blue " (twice, 1880 and 1881), and its only English rugby international
Gwyn Francis
1919
1921
BA French
Welsh rugby union international , winning two caps (1919 and 1924); rugby "Blue " in 1919, and part of the college team (along with William Havard ) that won the inter-college cup in 1920
William Havard
1919
1921
BA Modern History
College chaplain (1919–1921) who won his 'Blue' for rugby and represented Wales against New Zealand Services in 1919 (his only international) before becoming Bishop of St Asaph (1934–1950) and Bishop of St David's (1950–1956)
Vivian Jenkins
1930
1933
BA Literae Humaniores
Welsh rugby union international , winning fourteen caps (1933–1939) and one for the British and Irish Lions , who was the first Welsh full-back to score a try in an international match; rugby "Blue " three times (1930–1932); also played cricket for Glamorgan
Kenyon Jones
1930
1933
BA Modern History (2nd)
Welsh rugby union international , winning one cap (1934); rugby "Blue " twice (1931 and 1932)
Thomas Babington Jones
1871
1875
BA Mathematics (4th)
Played first-class cricket for Oxford University CC ; cricket "Blue " in 1874
Charles Lewis
1872
1879
BA (1876), MA (1879)
Welsh rugby union international , winning five caps (1882–1884); a triple "Blue " (cricket, hammer and hurdles, but not rugby)
Hilary Lister
1991
1996
BA Biochemistry
Quadriplegic solo sailor – the first quadriplegic sailor to cross the English Channel
James Page
1919
1923
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd, 1922), BA Jurisprudence (4th, 1923)
President of the Jesus College Jesus College Record and Captain of Boats whilst at college; rowing coach and secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association (1952–1972)
Conway Rees
1891
1894
BA Modern History (3rd)
Welsh rugby union international , winning three caps (1892–1894); rugby "Blue " three times (1891–1893) and the first Welshman to captain Oxford University RFC
Aneurin Rees
1877
DNG
—
Welsh rugby union international , winning one cap in the first international match involving Wales (1881); did not win a "Blue "
George Robinson
1879
1883
BA Theology (3rd)
Played first-class cricket for Oxford University CC ; cricket "Blue " three times (1881–1883)
John Strand-Jones
1898
1901
?
Welsh rugby union international , winning five caps (1902–1903); rugby "Blue " three times (1899–1901)
Barney Williams
2004
2006
Diploma in Legal Studies; MSc Management Studies
Canadian rower (winning a gold medal at the 2003 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics ) who was part of the winning crew for the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race in 2005 and 2006
Other people in public life
John Aspinall 's grave and memorial at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Beau Nash
Fictional students of Jesus College
Tobias Smollett , author of The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
Students at the college in fiction
Character
Author
Notes
Ref.
Sir David Metcalfe QC
Jeffrey Archer
A character in the play Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Ruth Gilmartin
William Boyd
A principal character in Restless , who in Chapter 4 calls at her college in Turl Street ; the novel is set in 1976, when Jesus College was the only Turl Street college admitting women; Boyd has also said "When, in my fiction, I have had to place a character at an Oxford college it has always been Jesus – sometimes disguised (as in my novel An Ice-Cream War ) sometimes overtly identified (as in my novel Any Human Heart )"
Logan Mountstuart
William Boyd
A character in the novel Any Human Heart , who studies History at Jesus College in the 1920s and is awarded a third-class degree
Cedric Downes
Colin Dexter
A Fellow of Brasenose in the novel The Jewel That Was Ours , who reveals that he was an undergraduate at Jesus, which he describes as "one of the less fashionable colleges"
Sir Watkin Phillips, Bt. and others
Tobias Smollett
Phillips is mentioned in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771), an epistolary novel , as the recipient of letters from another Jesus College man, Jery Melford. There is no evidence that Phillips or Melford were based on real people, but other Jesus College men in Melford's letters (Griffy Price, Gwyn, Mansel, Basset and "our old friend Barton") may be based on individuals attending Jesus College in the 1720s and 1730s.
Mark Treasure
David Williams
A detective in various novels by Williams; his Jesus College tie is recognised by a Welsh parson in Divided Treasure