Cambridge Union
The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Cambridge Union, is the largest student society at the University of Cambridge. Founded on February 13th, 1815 as a union of three debating societies, it is still best known for its debates, but also organises lectures by visiting speakers, film evenings and other social events for its members.
It elects a student as its president every term. Past holders of the post include Sir William Harcourt, William Smith O'Brien, John Maynard Keynes, Rab Butler, Douglas Hurd, Archbishop Michael Ramsey, Leon Brittan, Chris Smith, Ken Clarke, Norman Lamont, Peter Bazalgette, Michael Howard and Arianna Huffington.
It continues to attract eminent speakers from the UK and across the globe. Previous visitors have included President Reagan, Clint Eastwood, Gillian Anderson and Bruce Forsyth.
Its current premises were designed by Alfred Waterhouse and formally opened on October 30th, 1866, although they have undergone numerous developments since then.
The Cambridge Union is often confused with the Cambridge University Students' Union, the university-wide representative body for undergraduate students set up more recently in 1971. Despite the Cambridge Union Society never having been a students' union in the conventional sense, it did briefly affiliate to the UK's National Union of Students in 1924 and has often been the site for heated debates about the issues of the day.
Former Presidents since 1949:
Michaelmas, 1949 Mr P. Cradock, St John's.
Lent, 1950 Mr N. St John-Stevas, Fitzwilliam House
Easter, 1950 Mr R.G. Waterhouse, St John's.
Michaelmas, 1950 Mr Jack Ashley, Gonville & Caius.
Lent, 1951 Mr G. Mathur, Magdalene.
Easter, 1951 Mr D.G. Macmillan, Clare.
Michaelmas, 1951 Mr F.J. Williams, Trinity.
Lent, 1952 Mr G.E. Janner, Trinity Hall.
Easter, 1952 Mr Douglas Hurd, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1952 Mr A.H. Sampson, Selwyn.
Lent, 1953 Mr P.J. Mansfield, Pembroke.
Easter, 1953 Mr I.J. McIntyre, St John's.
Michaelmas, 1953 Mr H.S. Thomas, Queens'.
Lent, 1954 Mr D. Mirfin, Magdalene.
Easter, 1954 Mr N.O. Tomalin, Trinity Hall.
Michaelmas, 1954 Mr G. Shaw, St John's.
Lent, 1955 Mr R.G. Moore, Trinity.
Easter, 1955 Mr J.D. Waite, Corpus Christi.
Michaelmas, 1955 Mr J.N. Crichton-Miller, Pemb.
Lent, 1956 Mr M.D. Rosenhead, St John's.
Easter, 1956 Mr R.F. Peierls, Gonville & Caius.
Michaelmas, 1956 Mr K.W.J. Post, St John's.
Lent, 1957 Mr N.H. Marshall, St John's.
Easter, 1957 Mr D.R. Fairbairn, G. & Caius.
Michaelmas, 1957 Mr K.G. MacInnes, Trinity.
Lent, 1958 Mr C.T. Norman-Butler, Trinity.
Easter, 1958 Mr T.L. Higgins, G. & Caius.
Michaelmas, 1958 Mr J.H. Cockcroft, St John's.
Lent, 1959 Hon. J.P.F. St L. Grenfell, King's.
Easter, 1959 Mr J.W.F. Nott, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1959 Mr B. Walsh, Gonville & Caius.
Lent, 1960 Mr C.S. Tugendhat, G. & Caius.
Easter, 1960 Mr L.A.C.F. Giovene di Girasole, St Catharine’s.
Michaelmas, 1960 Mr L. Brittan, Trinity.
Lent, 1961 Mr A. Firth, Trinity.
Easter, 1961 Mr A.C. Renfrew, St John's.
Michaelmas, 1961 Mr P.G. Hancock, Emmanuel.
Lent, 1962 Mr J.S. Gummer, Selwyn.
Easter, 1962 Mr M Howard, Peterhouse.
Michaelmas, 1962 Mr B.H. Pollitt, King's.
Lent, 1963 Mr W.I.C. Binnie, Pembroke.
Easter, 1963 Mr K.H. Clarke, Gonville & Caius.
Michaelmas, 1963 Mr O. Weaver, Trinity.
Lent, 1964 Mr N.S.H. Lamont, Fitzwilliam H.
Easter, 1964 Mr C.E. Lysaght, Christ's.
Michaelmas, 1964 Mr J.C.H. Davies, Emmanuel.
Lent, 1965 Mr P.S. Fullerton, G. & Caius.
Easter, 1965 Mr J.V. Cable, Fitzwilliam House.
Michaelmas, 1965 Mr J.M.J. Burford, Emmanuel.
Lent, 1966 Mr R.A. Perlman, St Catharine’s.
Easter, 1966 Mr A.J. Vinson, Gonville & Caius.
Michaelmas, 1966 Mr B.P. Crossley, Trinity.
Lent, 1967 Mr M. Horowitz, Pembroke.
Easter, 1967 Mr N.P.R. Wall, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1967 Miss A. Mallalieu, Newnham.
Lent, 1968 Mr I. Martin, Emmanuel.
Easter, 1968 Mr G.W. Martin, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1968 Mr K.W. Jarrold, Sidney Sussex.
Lent, 1969 Mr P.J. Tyson-Cain, Downing.
Easter, 1969 Miss H.V. Middleweek, Newnham.
Michaelmas, 1969 Mr H.R.D. Anderson, Trinity.
Lent, 1970 Mr R.K. Evans, Trinity Hall.
Easter, 1970 Mr R. Dhavan, Emmanuel.
Michaelmas, 1970 Mr N.F. Stadlen, Trinity.
Lent, 1971 Mr P.L. Heslop, Christ's.
Easter, 1971 Mr R.M. Jackson, Jesus.
Michaelmas, 1971 Miss A-A. Stassinopoulos, Girton.
Lent, 1972 Mr D.J. Powell, St Catharine’s.
Easter, 1972 Mr K.F. Carey, Downing.
Michaelmas, 1972 Mr C.R. Smith, Pembroke.
Lent, 1973 Mr A.G. Oppenheimer, Trinity.
Easter, 1973 Mr D.A. Grace, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1973 Mr E.M. Goyder, Trinity.
Lent, 1974 Mr H.H.J. Carter, G. & Caius.
Easter, 1974 Mr J.T. Harris, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1974 Mr P.S. Weil, Jesus.
Lent, 1975 Mr D.M. Bean, Trinity Hall.
Easter, 1975 Mr D.P. Condit, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1975 Mr P.L. Bazalgette, Fitzwilliam.
Lent, 1976 Mr C.J. Greenwood, Magdalene.
Easter, 1976 Mr D.W. Johnson, Selwyn.
Michaelmas, 1976 Mr P.J. Fudakowski, Magdalene.
Lent, 1977 Mr K. Thapar, Pembroke.
Easter, 1977 Mr A.T.A. Dallas, Emmanuel.
Michaelmas, 1977 Mr J.A. Turner, Gonville & Caius.
Lent, 1978 Mr A.J.B. Mitchell, Jesus.
Easter, 1978 Mr R.D. Harris, Selwyn.
Michaelmas, 1978 Mr D.J.M. Janner, Trinity Hall.
Lent, 1979 Mr E.J.I. Stourton, Trinity.
Easter, 1979 Mr D.J.A. Casserley, Jesus.
Michaelmas, 1979 Mr M.J. Booth, Trinity.
Lent, 1980 Mr M.A. Bishop, Trinity.
Easter, 1980 Miss M.J. Libby, Girton.
Michaelmas, 1980 Mr C.H. Gallagher, Jesus.
Lent, 1981 Mr D.N. Senior, Jesus.
Easter, 1981 Mr P.M. Sugarman, St John's.
Michaelmas, 1981 Mr G.W.C. Kavanagh, St John's.
Lent, 1982 Mr P.N.L. Harvey, St Catharine’s.
Easter, 1982 Mr S.R.M. Baynes, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1982 Mr B.C. Jenkin, Corpus Christi.
Lent, 1983 Mr S.H. Milton, Gonville & Caius.
Easter, 1983 Miss M. MacDonagh, New Hall.
Michaelmas, 1983 Mr J.A. Lloyd, Fitzwilliam.
Lent, 1984 Mr G.B. Davies, St John's.
Easter, 1984 Mr A.J.H. Lownie, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1984 Miss L. Chapman-Jury, St John's.
Lent, 1985 Mr L.D. Anisfeld, Trinity.
Easter, 1985 Mr C.D. Blackwood, G. & Caius.
Michaelmas, 1985 Mr D.N. Walbank, Queens'.
Lent, 1986 Mr T.H. Oliver, St John's.
Easter, 1986 Mr C.D. Steele, Girton.
Michaelmas, 1986 Mr C.G. Earles, Sidney Sussex.
Lent, 1987 Mr M.P.N. Tod, St John's.
Easter, 1987 Mr M.P. Lindsay, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1987 Mr A.P. Ground, St John's.
Lent, 1988 Mr S.J. Greenhalgh, Trinity.
Easter, 1988 Mr C.M. Kelly, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1988 Mr P.C.W. Pressdee, St John's.
Lent, 1989 Mr A. Aithal, Trinity.
Easter, 1989 Miss C.A. Doerries, New Hall.
Michaelmas, 1989 Mr N.A. Pink, Pembroke.
Lent, 1990 Mr C.H.M. Robson, St John's.
Easter, 1990 Mr C.D. Willink, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1990 Mr M.F. Harris, Corpus Christi.
Lent, 1991 Mr M.S. Scott-Fleming, Clare.
Easter, 1991 Mr R.S. Mitter, King's.
Michaelmas, 1991 Miss E.D. Johnson, Queens'.
Lent, 1992 Mr S.P.J. Nixon, Trinity.
Easter, 1992 Miss C.V. Balding, Newnham.
Michaelmas, 1992 Mr N.P. Allen, Emmanuel.
Lent, 1993 Mr B.M. Elkington, Trinity.
Easter, 1993 Mr G.L. Barwell, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 1993 Miss L.C. Frazer, Newnham.
Lent, 1994 Mr S. Swaroop, Magdalene.
Easter, 1994 Mr C.M. Farmer, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1994 Mr S.D. Kirk, Emmanuel.
Lent, 1995 Miss R.C. Penn, Churchill.
Easter, 1995 Mr N.J. Boys Smith, Peterhouse.
Michaelmas, 1995 Mr D.H. Branch, Magdalene.
Lent, 1996 Mr N. Chatrath, Jesus.
Easter, 1996 Mr A. Cannon, Magdalene.
Michaelmas, 1996 Miss I. Waddell, Newnham.
Lent, 1997 Mr A. Leek, Emmanuel.
Easter, 1997 Mr J. Shapiro, Peterhouse.
Michaelmas, 1997 Mr G. Weetman, Christ's.
Lent, 1998 Miss S. Raine, Trinity.
Easter, 1998 Miss R. Durkin, Corpus Christi.
Michaelmas, 1998 Mr A. Slater, Corpus Christi.
Lent, 1999 Mr O. Wellings, Pembroke.
Easter, 1999 Miss S. Gledhill, Christ's.
Michaelmas, 1999 Mr G. Bevis, Magdalene.
Lent, 2000 Miss V. Perkins, Pembroke.
Easter, 2000 Miss A. Newton, Newnham.
Michaelmas, 2000 Mr P.J. Abbott, Magdalene.
Lent, 2001 Miss D. Newman, Churchill.
Easter, 2001 Mr W.M. Tan, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 2001 Mr J.M. Brier, Christ's.
Lent, 2002 Mr J. Devanny, Jesus.
Easter, 2002 Mr M.W.S. Lynas, Trinity.
Michaelmas, 2002 Mr T.B. Kibasi, Trinity stepped down for Mr T.H. Jeffery, Trinity.
Lent, 2003 Mr S.K. Kabraji, Trinity.
Easter, 2003 Mr E.C. Cumming, Downing.
Michaelmas, 2003 Mr W.E. Gallagher, Trinity Hall.
Lent, 2004 Mr S.G. Parkinson, Emmanuel.
Easter, 2004 Ms K. Steadman, New Hall
References
- Cradock, Percy (1953). Recollections of the Cambridge Union 1815-1939. Cambridge: Bowes & Bowes.