The Chancellor is the titular head of the University, and was in the earliest times the active head elected from among the resident masters. According to the 'original statutes' (MS Angelica 401) of c. 1236-54, he must 'promptly execute the masters' sentences when they bring them to his notice'. The earliest reference to a named chancellor is to Hugh de Hottun in 1246. The length of his term of office varied from one to six years and more than one term might be served. When John Fisher was elected in 1502 he had recently served as Vice-Chancellor (1501), as Master of Michaelhouse (1497-1504) and as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity (1502-4). On his election, also in 1504, to the see of Rochester he retained the chancellorship. In 1513 he offered to resign in favour of Thomas Wolsey, newly appointed to the see of Lincoln, but when Wolsey declined the chancellorship, Fisher was re-elected and remained chancellor until his execution in 1535. From then on, chancellors were elected from among the magnates of the land who could represent the university's interests at court, and, thus, with the exception of Lord Adrian (1967-76) were no longer resident in the university. Election is by the Senate and is for life. The Chancellor has the power to call congregations, to admit candidates to degrees and to titles of degrees, and to see that all officers of the university duly perform their offices.
[1246] Hugh de Hottun
1256 Reginald de Gerninghall
1259 William de Ludham
1260 Richard de Gedney M.A.
1261 Richard Dryfield
1267 John de Asgarby M.A.
1270-75 John Hooke
1276 Roger de Fulbourn
1283-84 Andrew de Gisleham M.A.
1286 Thomas de Sheringham [Skeringham]
1287 Stephen de Hepworth
1289 Ralph de Leicester
1290-92 Geoffrey de Pakenham
1293-94 Henry de Bolton
1295 John de Bradenham M.A.
1296 Thomas de Sheringham [Skeringham] (again)
1298 Thomas de Sheringham [Skeringham] (again)
1300-01 Stephen de Haslingfield M.A.
1303 Stephen de Haslingfield M.A.; (again).
1306 Stephen de Segrave D.Can.L.
1307 Stephen de Segrave D.Can.L.; (again)
1315 Richard de Aston D.Can.L.
1320 Roger de Northburgh
1326 Richard de Badew
1329 Thomas de Foxton
1330? Robert de Wynwyk
1331 John de Langley
1334 Robert de Mildenhall
1335-36 Henry de Herewarden
1337 Richard de Harling
1339 Richard de Harling (again)
1340 Robert de Claydon
1341 Thomas de Northwood
1344 Thomas de Northwood (again)
1345 Richard de Harling (again)
1346-1348:06 Crakhall, John de
1348 Thomas de Grantchester
1348:12:15 William de Lymbergh
1349 Richard de Wetherset (Wetheringsett), alias de Cantabrigia
1349:01:21 Richard de Harling (again)
1351 Richard de Harling (again)
1352 Anthony de Grantchester
1352-59 Tynkell, William
1359 Thomas de Sutton
1360 Richard de Wetherset (Wetheringsett), alias de Cantabrigia (again)
1361? Michael de Haynton M.A.
1361-1363 Michael de Cawston M.A.
1366 William de Gotham M.A.
1369 Thomas de Stewkley
1371 John de Dunwich
1373 Adam de Lakynheth
1374 John de Dunwich (again)
1376 William de Gotham (again)
1378:04:29 Scrope, Richard Le
1380:02:28 Zouch, Guy de la
1381 John de Cavendish, Sir
1382 John de Bromyard (Dominican)
1382:10:28 Zouch, Guy de la (again)
1383 John de Neketon
1384:11:14 John de Burgh
1388 Colvile, William
1390 Richard de Dereham D.D.
1390:01:22 Colvile, William
1391 Colvile, William (again)
1392 John de Neketon (again)
1394 Colvile, William (again)
1396 Zouch, Guy de la (again)
1400:05:28 Richard de Billingford D.D.
1402 Richard de Billingford
1404 Richard de Dereham (again)
1408 Richard de Dereham (again)
1409 Richard de Billingford (again)
1412 Ashwell, Thomas names surmised (see also under Vice-Chancellor)
1413 Richard de Billingford (again)
1414 Scrope, Stephen Le LL.D.
1415-21 John de Rickingale
1422 Thomas de Cobham
1424-25 Fitzhugh, Robert
1426 Wymbell, William
1427-28 Lumley, Marmaduke
1429-30 John de Holbroke (died 1430)
1430 John de Rickingale (again)
1431 Lascells, William
1432 Richard de Billingford (again)
1433-35 Cawdrey, Richard
1436-43 John de Langton
1445 Nicholas de Kenton
1447 John de Langton (again)
1447-48 Robert de Ascough LL.D. D.D.
1450 Close, Nicholas D.D.
1451, 1453, 1455 Percy, William (son of the Earl of Northumberland)
1456-58:06:30 Booth, Laurence
1458 Wilflett, William
1459-60 Woodlark, Robert
1461 Scroope, Richard
1462 Woodlark, Robert (again)
1463 Booth, John
1464 Wilflett, William (again)
1465 Herrison, John M.D.
1466 Wilflett, William (again)
1468 Story, Edward
1469 Rotherham, Thomas D.D.
1470 Story, Edward (again)
1473, 1475, 1478 Rotherham, Thomas (again)
1479 Boynton, John
1483 Rotherham, Thomas (again)
1485 Northwood, Thomas
1488 Badew, Richard
1490 Cosyn, Thomas
1494-95 Blythe, John
1496 Fitzhugh, John (or perhaps George, see 1502)
1500 Fox, Richard
1502 Fitzhugh, George
1503 Ruthall/Rowthall, Thomas
1504 Fisher, John [1] Bishop of Rochester
1514 Fisher, John [1]
1535 Cromwell, Thomas
1539 Gardiner, Stephen Bishop of Winchester
1547 Seymour, Edward Duke of Somerset
1552 Dudley, John Duke of Northumberland
1553 Gardiner, Stephen (again)
1556 Pole, Reginald Cardinal
1559 Cecil, William [Lord Burghley]
1598 Devereux, Robert Earl of Essex
1601 Cecil, Robert, Sir [Earl of Salisbury]
1612 Howard, Henry Earl of Northampton
1613 Howard, Thomas [2] Earl of Suffolk
1626 Villiers, George [1] first Duke of Buckingham
1628 Rich, Henry Earl of Holland
1648 Montagu, Edward Earl of Manchester
1651 John, Oliver St Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; (from 27 Nov.)
1660 Montagu, Edward Earl of Manchester; (restored)
1671 Villiers, George [2] second Duke of Buckingham
1674 Scott, James Duke of Monmouth
1682 Monck (Monk), Christopher Duke of Albemarle
1689 Seymour, Charles Duke of Somerset; (from 8 Mar.)
1748 Pelham, Thomas Holles Duke of Newcastle
1768 Fitzroy, Augustus Henry Duke of Grafton
1811 William Frederick, HRH Duke of Gloucester (from 26 Mar.)
1834 Pratt, John Jeffreys Marquis of Camden
1840 Percy, Hugh Duke of Northumberland
1847 Albert, HRH the Prince Consort (from 27 Feb.)
1861 Cavendish, William Duke of Devonshire; (from 31 Dec.)
1892 Cavendish, Spencer Compton Duke of Devonshire
1908 Strutt, John William Baron Rayleigh
1919 Balfour, Arthur James, Rt Hon. [Earl Balfour]
1930 Baldwin, Stanley, Rt Hon. [Earl Baldwin of Bewdley]
1948-50 Smuts, Jan Christiaan, Rt Hon. Field Marshal
1951 Tedder, Arthur William Baron Tedder
1967 Adrian, Edgar Douglas Lord Adrian
1976 Philip, H.R.H. the Prince Duke of Edinburgh