Discover the notable alumni of The University of Oxford. The list includes people like Stephen Hawking, Edward VII, Kate Beckinsale, Emma Watson & Theresa May. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as writers, intellectuals & academics, media personalities, leaders and scientists etc.
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Birthdate: October 13, 1925
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Died: April 8, 2013
United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister and also the longest serving Prime Minister in the 20th century, Margaret Thatcher served three consecutive terms in the office from 1979 till 1990. Her political views and leadership approach, known as Thatcherism, got her the nickname of Iron Lady. Though controversial, she prominently ranks high in the list of the best British Prime Ministers.
Birthdate: November 19, 1917
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died: October 31, 1984
The third Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi served as PM from 1966 till 1977 and then again from 1980 till her assassination in October 1984. She is considered one of India’s strongest PM and is hailed for leading India to victory over Pakistan in 1971, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. However, she is also categorised as authoritarian and is criticised for imposing Emergency in 1975.
Birthdate: August 18, 1972
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England
Victoria Coren Mitchell is the first woman to win a European Poker Tour contest. She has hosted the BBC game show Only Connect and written several books, including a poker-centered memoir. The Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee has also written columns for The Guardian and The Observer.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: July 28, 1635
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Freshwater, Isle of Wight
Died: March 3, 1703
Scientist Robert Hooke, also called England's Leonardo, initially gained recognition as an architect, conducting surveys following the Great Fire of London. He also taught geometry and was part of the Royal Society. He assisted Robert Boyle and eventually developed his own microscope, thus becoming the first to visualize micro-organisms.
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Tony Blair(Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Birthdate: May 6, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Former Labour Party leader Tony Blair was the prime minister of the U.K. from 1997 to 2007. He supported the U.S.’s “War on Terror.” Blair was the youngest British PM since 1812 and the longest-tenured from his party. He is known for introducing the “New Labour” and the “Third Way.”
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John Le Carré(Novelist)
Birthdate: October 19, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Poole, Dorset, England
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: February 10, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cadogan Place, London
Died: December 29, 1986
Harold Macmillan, also known as “Supermac” because of his witty personality, served as the British prime minister from 1957 to 1963. He was injured and rendered partially immobile while serving in World War I. He was known for supporting the nuclear test ban and for association with the Suez Crisis.
Birthdate: October 2, 1904
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Berkhamsted, England
Died: April 3, 1991
English author Henry Graham Greene, better known as Graham Greene, is remembered for his pathbreaking Catholic novels and thrillers. He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His works include The Third Man and The Human Factor, and his Academy Award-nominated script of the film The Fallen Idol.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: March 24, 1834
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Walthamstow, England
Died: October 3, 1896
William Morris was a British poet, novelist, textile designer, translator, and socialist activist. He played a major role in reviving the traditional British textile arts and the various methods of production. As a novelist and poet, Morris helped establish the fantasy genre, which is prevalent today. He is counted among the mostimportant cultural figures of the Victorian era.
Birthdate: April 18, 1988
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tampa, Florida
The current White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is also a political commentator, author and a lawyer. The highly educated, confident and energetic McEnany worked for Fox News and CNN before she shot to fame during the 2016 presidential election for her support for Donald Trump.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: December 29, 1809
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died: May 19, 1898
William Ewart Gladstone was a British politician and statesman. During a career that spanned six decades, Gladstone served as prime minister of the UK for 12 years, which included four different terms. Often counted among Britain's greatest leaders, Gladstone has been portrayed in several films and television series, such as Parnell, The Prime Minister, Edward the Seventh, and Number 10.
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Alan Bennett(Actor, Screenwriter, Playwright, Diarist, Writer)
Birthdate: May 9, 1934
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Armley
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: May 5, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Broomhill, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Member of the comedy group Monty Python, Michael Palin received a CBE in 2000. His portrayal of Ken Pile in A Fish Called Wanda earned him a BAFTA award. He ranked 30th in The Comedians' Comedian poll, was a Royal Geographical Society president, and later turned into a travel documentarian.
Birthdate: February 8, 1819
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: England
Died: January 20, 1900
The leading English art critic of the Victorian era, John Ruskin was a hugely influential figure in the latter half of the 19th century. Also a philosopher and prominent social thinker, he wrote on varied subjects like geology, architecture, education, botany, myth, ornithology, literature, and political economy. He founded the charitable trust Guild of St George.
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Theresa May(Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Birthdate: October 1, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Theresa May is a British politician who became the United Kingdom's second female prime minister. She served as prime minister from 2016 to 2019. During her prime ministership, May's involvement in the Brexit negotiations gave rise to the Brexit withdrawal agreement. She is also credited with co-founding Women2Win, which promotes women empowerment.
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Emerald Fennell(Actress)
Birthdate: October 1, 1985
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: October 14, 1644
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England
Died: July 30, 1718
William Penn was a writer and one of the earliest members of the Quakers. He is credited with founding the Province of Pennsylvania. He also oversaw the planning and development of the city of Philadelphia. Penn has several universities and schools named in his honor, including the William Penn University in Iowa.
Birthdate: November 23, 1887
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Weymouth, Dorset, England
Died: August 10, 1915
Henry Moseley was an English physicist best known for his development of Moseley's law in X-ray spectra. He made major contributions to the fields of atomic physics, nuclear physics, and quantum physics. He was working at the University of Oxford when World War I broke out, following which he went to volunteer for the Royal Engineers of the British Army.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: March 27, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Fulmer, England
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
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Tony Richardson(An Influential and Inventive Film Director Who Specialized in Literary Adaptations)
Birthdate: June 5, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died: November 14, 1991
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: June 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Karachi
Died: December 27, 2007
Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as Pakistan's prime minister in two separate terms and became the first woman in a Muslim majority nation to lead a democratic government. She was assassinated, at the age of 54, and after her death has been revered by many as an icon for women's rights.
Birthdate: May 1, 1672
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Milston, United Kingdom
Died: June 17, 1719
Best known for his articles in the iconic 18th-century periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator, English essayist Joseph Addison had a lifelong collaboration with Richard Steele. Educated at Oxford, he excelled in Latin and classics. A prominent Whig, he mostly wrote on the social and cultural trends of his time.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: October 9, 1966
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Marylebone, London, England
British politician David Cameron served as the prime minister of the UK from 2010 to 2016. During his prime ministership, Cameron's government introduced large-scale changes to education, healthcare, immigration policy, and welfare. His administration also legalized same-sex marriage in Wales and England and privatized the Royal Mail.
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Armando Iannucci(Satirist, Writer, Comedian, Radio producer, Television producer, Librettist, Screenwriter)
Birthdate: November 28, 1963
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Glasgow
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Russell T Davies(Screenwriter, Television producer, Science fiction writer)
Birthdate: April 27, 1963
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Swansea
Russell T Davies is a Welsh television producer and screenwriter who contributed immensely to the success of the popular science fiction television show Doctor Who. When Davies was working for the show, Doctor Who received five successive National Television Awards starting from 2005. He has also won prestigious awards, such as the British Academy Craft Award and the Cymru Award.
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Harry Lloyd(Actor)
Birthdate: November 17, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
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Owain Yeoman(Welsh Actor Known for His Role as CBI Agent ‘Wayne Rigsby’ in the TV Series ‘The Mentalist’)
Birthdate: July 2, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chepstow, Wales
Welsh actor Owain Yeoman is best known as Wayne Rigsby from The Mentalist, as Steven Daedalus from Kitchen Confidential, and as Lucas Dalton from The Nine. He has also appeared in films such as Troy and American Sniper. He is a supporter of PETA’s campaign for vegetarianism.
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Robert Hardy(Actor)
Birthdate: October 29, 1925
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
Died: August 3, 2017
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: August 5, 1967
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stanford
Billionaire businessman Reid Hoffman, co-founder of the professional networking platform LinkedIn, also serves as a partner of the firm Greylock Partners. The Stanford and Oxford alumnus is also a prominent philanthropist and has been a board member of Do Something. He has also worked with PayPal and written several books.
Birthdate: July 20, 1953
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Minneapolis, MN
Thomas Friedman is an American author and political commentator. He also contributes immensely to the New York Times as a weekly columnist. A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas Friedman was honored by the American Academy of Achievement with the prestigious Golden Plate Award in 2003.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: May 4, 1941
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Champaign, Illinois
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Gerard Manley Hopkins(Poet, Writer)
Birthdate: July 28, 1844
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: London
Died: June 8, 1889
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: June 20, 1952
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kolkata
Vikram Seth is an Indian poet and novelist. He is credited with increasing the readership of the English language in India. A revered and celebrated writer, Vikram Seth has been honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Sahitya Academy Award, WH Smith Literary Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, Crossword Book Award, Padma Shri, Commonwealth Poetry Prize, and Commonwealth Writers Prize.
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Stewart Lee(Writer, Comedian, Actor)
Birthdate: April 5, 1968
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Wellington
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: November 23, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: London, England
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Birthdate: August 27, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Balham, London Borough of Wandsworth
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Jeffrey Archer(Politician, Novelist, Writer, Playwright, Science fiction writer, Children's writer)
Birthdate: April 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: London
Jeffrey Archer is an English author and former politician whose books have sold over 320 million copies around the world. Archer has been a controversial figure; he was convicted of perjury in 2001 after which he was sent toBelmarsh Prisonfrom where he was later transferred to Wayland Prison. His conviction ended his political career.
Birthdate: February 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Harare, Zimbabwe
Died: September 6, 2019
Robert Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary. He played a major role in the Rhodesian Bush War, which eventually led to the Lancaster House Agreement, resulting in the creation of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Subsequently, Mugabe served as the first prime minister of Zimbabwe and later as its president. A controversial figure, Mugabe is also often criticized for his tyrannical ways.
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Richard Curtis(Screenwriter, Film director, Film producer, Television producer, Writer)
Birthdate: November 8, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand
Richard Curtis is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, film director, and producer. Widely regarded as one of Britain's most popular and successful comedy screenwriters, Curtis is best known for writing romantic comedy films like Bridget Jones's Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Love Actually. Richard Curtis is a recipient of several prestigious awards including the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award.
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Thomas Browne(English Polymath and Author Best Known for His Books 'Religio Medici' and 'Urne-Burial')
Birthdate: October 19, 1605
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England
Died: October 19, 1682
Thomas Browne was an English author and polymath who wrote several books on varied fields, such as religion, medicine, science, and the esoteric. Browne incorporated different styles of writing depending upon the genre he was working on. Over the years, his writing has influenced several other writers like Herman Melville. Browne's works have been admired by personalities like William Osler.
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Nancy Mitford(English Novelist and Biographer Who is Known for Writing Popular Historical Biographies)
Birthdate: November 28, 1904
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: London, England
Died: June 30, 1973
Born to the 2nd Baron Redesdale, Nancy Mitford and her siblings were all homeschooled. Known as one of the brightest of the Mitford sisters, she became famous for writing semi-autobiographical novels such as The Pursuit of Love. She pioneered the use of language to distinguish between social classes in books.
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Terence Rattigan(Playwright)
Birthdate: June 10, 1911
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: South Kensington, London, England
Died: November 30, 1977
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: April 3, 1925
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Marylebone
Died: March 14, 2014
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William Weld(Lawyer)
Birthdate: July 31, 1945
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Smithtown, New York, U.S.
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: December 22, 1696
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Surrey
Died: June 30, 1785
Remembered as the founder of the British colony of Georgia in the US, James Oglethorpe was a renowned British soldier, MP, and social reformer. Educated at Oxford, he initially fought for the Austrian army against the Turks. As an MP, he brought in prison reforms. He was also the governor of Georgia.
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Elizabeth Bowen(Novelist)
Birthdate: June 7, 1899
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: February 22, 1973
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Philip Pullman(Writer, Novelist, University teacher, Playwright, Librarian, Children's writer)
Birthdate: October 19, 1946
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Norwich, England
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Maisie Richardson-Sellers(Actress)
Birthdate: March 2, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Recommended Lists:49
Yang Jiang(Chinese Playwright and Translator Who Wrote Several Successful Comedies)
Birthdate: July 17, 1911
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Died: May 25, 2016
Yang Jiang was a Chinese author, translator, and playwright. Yang Jiang is credited with writing several successful comedies. A prolific translator, Yang was the first Chinese to come up with a proper Chinese version of Don Quixote. Her translation is considered the definitive translation of the popular novel in China.
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Mohamed A. El-Erian(Egyptian-American Economist and Former CEO of 'PIMCO')
Birthdate: August 19, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Born to Egyptian parents in New York, Mohamed A. El-Erian grew up in the U.S., Egypt, and France, with his diplomat father. Educated at Cambridge and Oxford, he later served as the CEO of PIMCO. Apart from being a Bloomberg columnist, he has also written bestsellers such as When Markets Collide.
Recommended Lists:There are hardly a few people around the world who haven’t heard of the Oxford University, such is its reputation. Although no sources could accurately confirm the date the university started, it is believed that an institution existed on the site its current campus is located, even back in 1096. Most people know about the great quality of education that Oxford imparts to its students, but the university is also famous for its notable alumni. The university has produced more than 20 Nobel Laureates. Not many know that 28 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom had once studied at this world renowned university. Former American president Bill Clinton, acclaimed writers Oscar Wilde, C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien as well as Hollywood actor Hugh Grant. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had been in the news for his resignation recently, is also an alumnus of this great institution. The literary works of Wilde, Lewis and Tolkien have received acclaim worldwide and some of these works have even been adapted as films. Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Lord Of The Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ are adaptations of Tolkien’s novels. Oscar Wilde’s short stories, which were penned years ago are appreciated even today. Here’s the list of distinguished personalities from around the world who were once students of the world famous Oxford University. Many of these individuals have certainly made their alma mater pretty proud with their outstanding accomplishments.
