Jesus College is one of the
constituent colleges of the
University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in 1571 by
Queen Elizabeth I at the request of
Hugh Price , a Welsh clergyman, 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. Women have been admitted since 1974, when the college was one of the first five men's colleges to become co-educational. Old members of Jesus College are sometimes known as "Jesubites".
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 (MPs) 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 .
Other students at the college have subsequently held political offices in other countries. Norman Manley was Chief Minister of Jamaica from 1955 to 1962. 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 .
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 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 .
Alumni
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 from England and Wales
Ed Davey , appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2012
Edward Garnier , MP and former Solicitor General for England and Wales
Thomas Johnes , British MP
Harold Wilson , Former British Labour Prime Minister
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref
Sir John Aubrey, 2nd Baronet
1668
DNG
–
MP for Brackley (1698–1700)
Sir John Aubrey, 3rd Baronet
1698
DNG
–
MP for Cardiff (1706–1710)
Thomas Bulkeley, 7th Viscount Bulkeley
1769
1773
MA (1773), DCL (1810)
MP for Anglesey (1774–1784); donated the copy of Guido Reni 's St Michael subduing the Devil hanging in the college chapel
Sir Evan Cotton
1887
1892
BA Modern History (2nd, 1891), BA Jurisprudence (2nd, 1892) (2nd in Classics Honour Mods , 1889)
Liberal MP for Finsbury East (1918), President of the Bengal Legislative Council (1922–1925)
J. E. Daniel
1919
1925
BA Literae Humaniores (1st, 1923), BA Theology (1st, 1925)
Welsh theologian and chairman of Plaid Cymru (1939–1943)
Edward Davey
1985
1988
BA PPE (1st)
President of the Jesus College JCR ; became Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton (1997 to date); appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2012
Geraint Davies
1978
1982
BA PPE
President of the Jesus College JCR ; became Labour MP for Croydon Central (1997–2005)
Bruce Douglas-Mann
1948
1951
BA PPE (2nd)
Labour MP for Kensington North (1970–1974) and Mitcham and Morden (1974–1982); joined the SDP , but lost his seat at the by-election following his change of party
Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet
1872
1875
Pass degree
Liberal MP for Radnorshire (1892–1895, 1900 – January 1910 and December 1910 – 1918)
William Foxwist
1628
DNG
–
Welsh judge who was MP for Caernarfon (1647–1648), Anglesey (1654–1655), Swansea (1659) and St Albans (1660)
Edward Garnier QC
1971
1974
BA Modern History (3rd)
Conservative MP for Harborough (1992–2017), Solicitor General (2010–2012)
Sir William Glynne, 1st Baronet
1654
1656
BA
MP for Caernarfon in the Third Protectorate Parliament
Ian Grist
1957
1960
BA Modern History (2nd)
Labour MP for Cardiff North (1974–1983), then MP for Cardiff Central (1983–1992)
Leoline Jenkins (F/P)
1641
DNG
–
Studies interrupted by the English Civil War , but awarded DCL in 1661; a lawyer and diplomat who served as Secretary of State (1680–1684)
Thomas Johnes
1766 ?
1766 ?
?
MP for Cardigan , Radnorshire and Cardiganshire in succession between 1775 and 1816; Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire (1800–1816)
Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet
1638
DNG
–
MP for Wenlock in the Short and Long Parliaments (1661–1679), then MP for East Grinstead (1679) and Yarmouth (1681)
Sir Charles Lloyd, 1st Baronet
1679
DNG
–
MP for Cardigan boroughs (1698–1701), High Sheriff of Cardiganshire (1690) and High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire (1716)
Sir Herbert Lloyd, 1st Baronet
1738
DNG
–
MP for Cardigan boroughs (1761–1768)
John Meyrick
1692 ?
1695 ?
?
MP for Pembroke (1702–1708) and Cardigan (1710–1712); later a judge in Anglesey
Andrew McIntosh, Baron McIntosh of Haringey
1951
1954
BA PPE (2nd)
Former leader of the Labour Group on the Greater London Council ; Deputy Government Chief Whip (1997–2003)
Sir Roger Mostyn, 3rd Baronet
1690
DNG
–
MP who represented Flintshire , Flint and Cheshire between 1701 and 1734
Sir James Perrot
1586
DNG
–
Welsh writer; MP for Haverfordwest in the reigns of Elizabeth I , James I and Charles I
James Philipps
1610
1613 ?
?
High Sheriff of Cardiganshire in 1649; MP representing Cardiganshire , Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Boroughs between 1653 and 1661
William Price
1707
DNG
–
High Sheriff of Merionethshire and High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire
William Bowen Rowlands
1854
1859
BA
Liberal MP for Cardiganshire (1886–1895)
Sir John Salusbury
1581
DNG
–
MP for Denbighshire in 1601; also wrote sonnets and love lyrics
Sir Thomas Salusbury, 2nd Baronet
–
1642
DCL
MP for Denbighshire in the Short Parliament of 1640; awarded an honorary DCL by King Charles I during the English Civil War
Samuel Segal, Baron Segal (HF)
1919
1923
BA Physiology (2nd)
Labour MP for Preston (1945–1950) and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords (1973–1982)
Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir (HF)
1938
1946
BA Jurisprudence
Studies interrupted by World War II, when he served in the RAF and was a prisoner of war ; then Conservative MP for Conwy (1951–1966) and Hendon South (1970–1987), and Secretary of State for Wales (1970–1974)
James Tinn
1955
1958
BA PPE (3rd)
Labour MP for Cleveland (1964–1974) and for Redcar (1974–1987)
John Vaughan, 1st Earl of Carbery
1592
DNG
–
Comptroller to the household of Prince Charles (later King Charles I) and MP for Carmarthenshire ; brother of William Vaughan , who also attended the college
Theresa Villiers
1990
1991
BCL
Conservative MEP for London (1999–2005), MP for Chipping Barnet (2005 to date), Minister of State for Transport (2010–2012) and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (2012 onwards)
John White
1607
DNG
–
High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire , MP for Southwark (1640–1645)
Alan W. Williams
1963
1969
BA Chemistry (1st), DPhil
Labour MP for Carmarthen (1987–1997) and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (1997–2001)
Sir Charles Williams
1610
DNG
–
MP for Monmouthshire 1620–1621 and 1640–1641
D. J. Williams
1916
1918
BA English (4th)
Welsh nationalist and writer; one of the founders of Plaid Cymru in 1925; his thesis was "The nature of literary creation"
Hugh Williams
1712
DNG
–
MP for Anglesey (1725–1734), grandson of Sir William Williams
Sir William Williams
1650
DNG
–
MP for Chester (1670–1685), Speaker of the House of Commons (1680–1685) and Solicitor General (1687–89); grandfather of Hugh Williams
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 3rd Baronet
1710
DNG
–
Welsh politician and prominent Jacobite who was said to have had "a record of idleness and extravagance" at College; awarded an honorary DCL in 1732 and presented a 10 imperial gallons (45 L) punch bowl to College to commemorate this
Harold Wilson (HF)
1934
1937
BA PPE (1st)
Awarded pre-entry scholarship to read Modern History but changed degree subject; twice served as British Prime Minister (October 1964 – June 1970 and March 1974 – April 1976)
Sir John Wogan
1607
DNG
–
MP for Pembrokeshire in the 17th century
Lewis Wogan
1663
DNG
–
High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire (1672)
William Wynne
1820
DNG
–
MP for Merioneth (1852–1865), High Sheriff of Merionethshire (1867)
Politicians in other countries
Terry Le Sueur , the Chief Minister of Jersey from 2008 to 2011
Heather Wilson , former member of the US House of Representatives
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref
Lalith Athulathmudali
1955
1960
BA Jurisprudence (2nd, 1958), BCL (2nd, 1960)
President of the Oxford Union (1958); a Sri Lankan politician; killed by the Tamil Tigers in 1993
Neal Blewett (HF)
1957
1959
BA PPE (2nd)
Member of the Australian House of Representatives (1977–1994), Government Minister (1983–1994), High Commissioner to the UK (1994–1998)
Joseph Clearihue
1911
1914
BA Jurisprudence (2nd, 1913), BCL (3rd, 1914)
Canadian Rhodes scholar ; 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)
Don Baron Jayatilaka
1910
1912
BA Jurisprudence (3rd)
Ceylonese statesman (vice-chairman of the Board of Ministers, Leader of the State Council, and Minister for Home Affairs)
Terry Le Sueur
1960 ?
1963
BA Physics (3rd)
Chief Minister of Jersey 2008–2011
Thomas Lloyd
1658
1661
Law and medicine
Politician in the province of Pennsylvania
Norman Manley (HF)
1914
1921
BA Jurisprudence , BCL (2nd)
A Rhodes scholar whose studies were interrupted by World War I; Chief Minister of Jamaica (1955–1962)
P. T. Rajan
1912
1915
BA Modern History (4th)
Chief Minister of Madras Presidency (April – August 1936)
Harold Rushworth
1898 ?
1901 ?
BA Jurisprudence
Emigrated to New Zealand in 1923, becoming an MP for the Country Party in 1928
Pixley ka Isaka Seme
1906
1909
BCL
Founder member of the African National Congress
Heather Wilson
1982
1985
MPhil (1984), DPhil in International Relations (1985)
Republican member of the US House of Representatives , representing New Mexico's 1st congressional district (June 1998 – January 2009); the first Jesus Old Member elected to the House
Judges
Viscount Sankey
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref
Austin Amissah
1951
1954
BA Jurisprudence (2nd)
Ghanaian lawyer, judge and academic
Sir John Blake-Reed (HF)
1901
1905
BA Literae Humaniores (3rd)
British judge in various courts in Palestine , Cairo and Alexandria (1919–1949)
Herbert du Parcq, Baron du Parcq (HF)
1904
1905
BCL
British judge, appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 1946
William Evans
–
1873
BA Literae Humaniores (1872, 3rd), BA Jurisprudence (4th, 1873)
Matriculated as a non-collegiate student in 1868, transferring to Jesus College in 1869; a barrister and legal author, then a county court judge assigned to mid-Wales; died whilst sitting at Oswestry County Court
Sir Arthur James (HF)
1934
1938
BA Jurisprudence (1st, 1937), BCL (1st, 1938)
Barrister (who prosecuted the Great Train Robbers ) then a judge of the High Court and Court of Appeal
Sir Vincent Lloyd-Jones (HF)
1921
1924
BA English (2nd, 1923), BA Jurisprudence (3rd, 1924)
High Court judge (1960–1972)
Michael Long
1947 ?
1949
BA Jurisprudence (3rd)
Director of Public Prosecutions for Belize (1980–1981), Resident Judge of the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus (1981–1985)
Ronald Murray, Lord Murray (HF)
1947
1949
?
MP for Edinburgh Leith (1970–1979), Lord Advocate (1974–1979), appointed a Senator of the College of Justice in 1979
Sir David Poole (HF)
1957
1961
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
Barrister , then a High Court judge
Sir John Powell
1650
1653
BA
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and of the Court of King's Bench ; presided over the trial of the Seven Bishops in 1688
Sir Richard Richards
1771
–
–
Transferred to Wadham College and then The Queen's College ; an MP (briefly) who became Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
John Sankey, 1st Viscount Sankey (HF)
1885
1891
BA Modern History (2nd, 1889), BCL (3rd)
Lord Chancellor (1929–1935), also High Steward of Oxford University
John Seys-Llewellyn
1931
1934
BA French and German (2nd)
Barrister (who participated in the prosecution of the Nuremberg Trials ); later a county court judge
Other lawyers
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref
James Chadwin QC
1951
1954 ?
?
Barrister ; defended the Yorkshire Ripper
Charles Clark
1954
1957
BA Jurisprudence (3rd)
Lawyer and publisher; an expert on copyright
J Duncan M Derrett
1940
1947
BA Modern History
Professor of Oriental Laws in the University of London (1965–1982)
Sir David William Evans
1885
1888
?
Welsh solicitor who was director and legal advisor of the King Edward VII National Memorial Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis, and knighted for public services to Wales; previously won his "Blue " in rugby (1887 and 1888) and played as a Welsh rugby union international , winning six caps (1889–1891)
Sidney Hayward QC
1919
1922
BA Jurisprudence (2nd) (1st class in Mods in Mathematics)
Barrister and writer on housing and planning law
Alfred Hazel (F/P)
1888
1894
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd, 1892), BA Jurisprudence (1st, 1893), BCL (2nd)
All Souls Reader in English Law, Liberal MP for West Bromwich (1906 – January 1910)
Sir David Lewis (HF)
1966
1969
BA Jurisprudence
Former senior partner of Norton Rose Fulbright , Lord Mayor of London (2007–2008)
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
John Williams
1773
–
–
Transferred to Wadham College and graduated from there; serjeant-at-law and legal writer
Edward Wynne (F)
1698
1702
BA (1702), MA (1705) BCL and DCL (1711)
Advocate at Doctors' Commons , chancellor of the Diocese of Hereford and an Anglesey landowner
Edward Wynne
1753
DNG
–
Barrister and legal writer; son of the lawyer William Wynne
William Wynne
1709
1712
BA
Serjeant-at-law and author of The Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins (1724); son of Owen Wynne and father of barrister Edward Wynne
Civil servants and diplomats
Name
M
G
Degree
Notes
Ref
Sir Frederick Atkinson (HF)
1938
1947
BA PPE
Chief Economic Adviser to HM Treasury (1977–1979)
Sir Goronwy Daniel (HF)
1937
1940
DPhil
Permanent Under-Secretary of the Welsh Office (1964–1969), Principal of University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1969–1979)
Eryl Davies
1940
1942
BA English
Chief Inspector of Schools for Wales (1972–1982)
Gunasena de Soyza
1923
1926
BA Literae Humaniores (2nd)
High Commissioner for Ceylon in Britain (1960–1961)
Sir Walter Jenkins
1893
1897
BA
Director of Naval Contracts at the Admiralty (1919–1936)
Sir Philip Jones (HF)
1949
1953
BA Literae Humaniores
Civil servant who was later chairman of Total Oil Marine (1990–1998) and chairman of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (1996–2000)
Sir Archibald Lush
1917 ?
1920 ?
?
Chief Inspector of Schools for Monmouthshire (1944–1964), awarded a knighthood for social services to Wales
Christopher Lintrup Paus
1900
1904
MA
Diplomat who served at the British Embassy in Oslo as commercial counsellor and as the British consul in Oslo
Sir Thomas Williams Phillips (HF)
1902
1906
BA Literae Humaniores (1st)
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour (1935–1944) and Chairman of the War Damage Commission (1949–1959)
Sir David Roberts
1946 ?
1947 ?
BA
Diplomat who served as Ambassador to Syria , High Commissioner to Sierra Leone , Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Ambassador to Lebanon
Sir Archibald Rowlands
1917 ?
1920 ?
BA Modern Languages
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production during the Second World War
Sir Ben Bowen Thomas (HF)
1920
1923 ?
BA Modern History
Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Department of the Department of Education (1945–1963), President of University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1964–1975)
Sir Edgar Vaughan (HF)
1925
1929
BA Modern History (1st, 1928), BA PPE (1st, 1929)
Ambassador to Colombia (1964–1966)
Owen Wynne
1668
1672
BA
Secretary to Sir Leoline Jenkins when he was Secretary of State , and for his successors; described as "an early example of the permanent civil servant"