List of masters of Trinity College, Cambridge


, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, is headed by a master who oversees the general operation of the college. The role is officially appointed by the monarch at the recommendation of the college, and involves presiding over meetings of the college council and its governing body, although the executive powers of the master are limited. In addition, the master supports relations with students and alumni of the college, and serves as an ambassador for its global development activities.
In 1546, Trinity College was founded by Henry VIII, merging the colleges of Michaelhouse and King's Hall. John Redman, then Warden of King's Hall, was thus appointed first Master of Trinity College. There have been 40 appointments to the position; William Bill was appointed master twice, in 1551 and 1558. The longest serving master was Richard Bentley, from 1700 until his death in 1741. He held the post despite widespread unpopularity amongst the fellows, a feud which lasted for about 30 years. During this, Bentley survived numerous criminal charges, and had his university degree rescinded between 1718 and 1724. The current master, Dame Sally Davies, was appointed on 8 February 2019. She assumed the role during a ceremony on 8 October of that year, becoming the 39th Master of Trinity College, and the first woman to hold the position.
For much of the past, the master was required to hold a degree from the University of Cambridge, and was usually a member of Trinity College. Historical statutes also stated that the office of the master could only be held up to the age of 70 or 75, at the decision of the fellows. Currently, the master holds office for a fixed term of up to eight years. There is no longer a requirement to have studied at Trinity College, or the University of Cambridge, but recent masters have usually been distinguished academics. The incumbent is always referred to as the master, regardless of gender, for historical reasons.
The Master of Trinity College resides in the Master's Lodge, located in Great Court. It was originally built in 1554, and is a Grade I listed building. The entrance hall has 16th-century panelling, and the drawing room has a late 15th-century plaster ceiling. The façade of the building towards Great Court was renovated between 1841 and 1843 by Anthony Salvin. In 1892, the architect Arthur Blomfield constructed the west wing of the lodge with additional rooms for private accommodation of the master, which freed some of the historic rooms for public use. The Master's Lodge is customarily the royal residence when visiting the university. It includes a state bedroom that was refurbished for the 1843 visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Several masters of the college contributed to the development of its buildings throughout history. Thomas Nevile, master of the college from 1593, remodelled the majority of the college buildings. He demolished several buildings to clear space for the Great Court, which is now reputedly the largest enclosed courtyard in Europe. Upon his death, he bequeathed a sum of money that entirely paid for the construction of Nevile's Court. In the late 17th century, Nevile's Court was further developed by Christopher Wren under the instruction of the master of the college, Isaac Barrow, forming the Wren Library. In the 1860s, William Whewell paid for the construction of Whewell's Court, two neo-Gothic courts located on the opposite side of Trinity Street.

List of masters

NamePortraitBirthDeathTerm of officeNotes
—149915511546–1551Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Public Orator of Cambridge, Warden of King's Hall, later forming Trinity College
15611551–1553Master of St John's College, Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Provost of Eton College, Dean of Westminster.
—15581553–1558Chaplain and confessor to Mary I, Dean of Norwich, Bishop of Chichester
15611558–1561Second term as Master of Trinity College
—15671561–1567Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University
16041567–1577Archbishop of Canterbury
1577–1593Master of St John's College, Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Bishop of Bath and Wells
16151593–1615Dean of Peterborough and Dean of Canterbury, Master of Magdalene College ; significantly developed Trinity College, including expanding Great Court and building Nevile's Court
156416251615–1625Biblical scholar, Regius Professor of Divinity, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University
—155216291625–1629Bishop of Bath and Wells, Master of Peterhouse
—157516311629–1631Playwright, Gresham Professor of Divinity
164516991631–1645Linguist, Dean of Carlisle
—16531645–1653Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University
—160216591653–1659Theologian, Master of St John's College, Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Regius Professor of Divinity
161416721659–1660Natural philosopher, cofounder of the Royal Society, Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, Bishop of Chester
—160216621660–1662Dean of Ely, Bishop of Chester
161316861662–1672Theologian, Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Bishop of Chester
163016771672–1677Christian theologian and mathematician, known for early development of infinitesimal calculus; Regius Professor of Greek, first Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, academic advisor of Isaac Newton
—164516831677–1683Regius Professor of Greek, buried in Trinity College Chapel
17281683–1699Dean of Durham, benefactor to the college
166217421700–1742Classical scholar, critic, theologian, Regius Professor of Divinity
168917681742–1768Mathematician, Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, buried in Trinity College Chapel
173117941768–1789Bishop of Peterborough, Dean of Durham
173117981789–1798Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University
175318201798–1820Public Orator of Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Bishop of Bristol
177418461820–1841Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, youngest brother of the poet William Wordsworth
179418661841–1866Polymath, scientist, theologian, mathematician, poet; funded the construction of Whewell's Court
181018861866–1886Classical scholar, Regius Professor of Greek, reformer of Trinity College and the University of Cambridge
183319181886–1918Headmaster of Harrow School, Dean of Gloucester
185619401918–1940Physicist, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physics, known for the discovery of the electron
187619621940–1951Historian and author, Regius Professor of History, Chancellor of Durham University
188919771951–1965Electrophysiologist, laureate of Nobel Prize for Physiology for work on the function of neurons, President of the Royal Society, President of the Royal Society of Medicine, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
190219821965–1978Conservative Party politician, Deputy Prime Minister
191419981978–1984Physiologist and biophysicist, joint winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded Copley Medal, later President of the Royal Society
191720121984–1990Physiologist and biophysicist, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, President of the Royal Society
192920191990–1997Mathematician, Savilian Professor of Geometry, laureate of the Fields Medal and Abel Prize, President of the Royal Society
19331998–2004Economist and philosopher, laureate of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, recipient of the Bharat Ratna
19422004–2012Cosmologist and astrophysicist, fifteenth Astronomer Royal, President of the Royal Society
19512012–2019Molecular biologist, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, known for work on the therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies
19492019–presentPhysician, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health, Chief Medical Officer