Professorship
Faculty or Department
Benefactor
Established
Discontinued
Notes
Lady Margaret’s Professor of Divinity
Divinity
Lady Margaret Beaufort
1502
Regius Professor of Divinity
Divinity
Henry VIII
1540
Regius Professor of Civil Law
Law
Henry VIII
1540
Regius Professor of Physic
Medicine
Henry VIII
1540
Ex officio Head of the School of Clinical Medicine
Regius Professor of Hebrew
Middle Eastern Studies
Henry VIII
1540
Regius Professor of Greek
Classics
Henry VIII
1540
Sir Thomas Adams’s Professor of Arabic
Middle Eastern Studies
Sir Thomas Adams, 1st Baronet
1632
Lucasian Professor of Mathematics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Henry Lucas
1663
Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy
Philosophy
John Knightbridge
1683
Professor of Music
Music
1684
Yusuf Hamied 1702 Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
1702
Formerly BP Professor of Chemistry (1991–2019), Professor of Organic Chemistry (1943–1991) and Professor of Chemistry (1702–1943)
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy
Astronomy
Thomas Plume
1704
Professor of Anatomy
Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience
1707
Regius Professor of History
History
George I
1724
Formerly Regius Professor of Modern History (1724–2010)
Regius Professor of Botany
Plant Sciences
1724
Formerly Professor of Botany (1724–2009)
Woodwardian Professor of Geology
Earth Sciences
John Woodward
1728
Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
Thomas Lowndes
1749
Norris–Hulse Professor of Divinity
Divinity
1777
Formed in 1934 by merger of the Norrisian (1777) and Hulsean (1860) Professorships of Divinity
Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy
Physics
Rev Richard Jackson
1783
Downing Professor of the Laws of England
Law
Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet
1800
Downing Professor of Medicine
Medicine
Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet
1800
1930
Professor of Mineralogy
Mineralogy
1808
1931
Replaced by the Professorship of Mineralogy and Petrology in 1931
Lord Almoner’s Professor of Arabic
Oriental Languages
The Crown, via the Lord Almoner
1815
1933
Preceded by a readership of the same title (1724–1815)
Disney Professor of Archaeology
Archaeology
John Disney
1851
Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
Lady Mary Sadleir
1860
Preceded by a lectureship of the same title (1748–1864)
Professor of Political Economy
Economics
1863
Title first granted in 1828, permanent professorship established in 1863
Professor of Zoology
Zoology
1866
Formerly Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy (1866–1934)
Whewell Professor of International Law
Law
William Whewell
1867
Kennedy Professor of Latin
Classics
Friends and former pupils of Benjamin Hall Kennedy
1869
Formerly Professor of Latin (1869–1911)
Slade Professor of Fine Art
History of Art
Felix Slade
1869
Cavendish Professor of Physics
Physics
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire
1871
Professor of Engineering
Engineering
1875
Formerly Professor of Mechanism and Applied Mechanics (1875–1934) and Professor of Mechanical Science (1934–1966)
Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
Joseph Bosworth
1878
Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History
History
Wolstan Dixie
1882
Preceded by fellowships of Emmanuel College established from the same endowment
Professor of Physiology
Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience
1883
Professor of Pathology[1]
Pathology
1883
Also ex officio member of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine
Ely Professor of Divinity
Divinity
Canonry of Ely
1889
1980
Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy
Philosophy
1896
Formerly Professor of Philosophy (1934–2010) and Professor of Mental Philosophy and Logic (1896–1934)
Professor of Ancient History
Classics
1898
Also ex officio member of the Faculty Board of History
Drapers Professor of Agriculture
Biology
Worshipful Company of Drapers
1899
1990
Quick Professor of Biology
Determined upon appointment
Frederick James Quick
1906
Professor of Astrophysics
Astronomy
1909
Schröder Professor of German
Modern and Medieval Languages
Messrs J. Henry Schröder and Company
1909
King Edward VII Professor of English Literature
English
Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere
1911
Arthur Balfour Professor of Genetics
Genetics
Reginald Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher
1912
Serena Professor of Italian
Modern and Medieval Languages
Arthur Serena
1919
Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History
History
Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere
1919
Formerly Vere Harmsworth Professor of Naval History (1919–1933)
Drapers Professor of French
Modern and Medieval Languages
Worshipful Company of Drapers
1919
Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering
Engineering
Emile Mond
1919
Professor of Physical Chemistry
Chemistry
1920
Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Sir William Dunn, 1st Baronet, of Lakenheath
1921
Professor of the History of Political Thought[2] [3]
History
Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial
1927
Formerly Professor of Political Science (1927–2010)
Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
W. W. Rouse Ball
1927
Rouse Ball Professor of English Law
Law
W. W. Rouse Ball
1927
Professor of Economic History[4] [5]
History
1928
Also ex officio member of the Faculty Board of Economics
Professor of Modern History
History
1930
Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy
Classics
Perceval Maitland Laurence
1930
Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology
Classics
Perceval Maitland Laurence
1930
Montague Burton Professor of Industrial Relations
Economics
Montague Burton
1930
Professor of Geography[6]
Geography
1931
Professor of Experimental Psychology
Psychology
1931
Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology
Earth Sciences
1931
Replaced the Professorship of Mineralogy established in 1808
John Humphrey Plummer Professors
Determined upon appointment
1931
Goldsmiths’ Professor of Materials Science
Materials Science and Metallurgy
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
1931
William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology
Social Anthropology
William Wyse
1932
Professor of Spanish
Modern and Medieval Languages
1933
Professor of Comparative Philology[7]
Classics
1937
Professor of Medieval History
History
1937
Professor of Education
Education
1938
Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions
Determined upon appointment
Cambridge University Press
1944
Professor of Electrical Engineering
Engineering
1944
Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Royal Dutch Shell
1945
Herbert Thompson Professor of Egyptology
Oriental Studies
Henry Francis Herbert Thompson
1945
1977
Subsequently re-established as a personal professorship (2005–13)
Hopkinson and Imperial Chemical Industries Professor of Applied Thermodynamics
Engineering
Imperial Chemical Industries
1950
Professor of Small Animal Surgery
Veterinary Medicine
1950
Formerly Professor of Comparative Oncology and Genetics (2011–13) and Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies (1950–2011)
Smuts Professor of Commonwealth History
History
1952
Formerly Smuts Professor of the History of the British Commonwealth (1952–94)
Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English
English
1954
Wolfson Professor of Criminology
Criminology
1959
Professor of Manufacturing Engineering
Engineering
1960
Sheild Professor of Pharmacology
Pharmacology
1961
Professor of Mathematical Statistics
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
1961
Professor of Medicine
Medicine
1962
Professor of Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
1964
Frank Ramsey Professor of Economics
Economics
1965
Formerly Professor of Economics (1965–1994)
Professor of English
English
1966
Professor of Engineering
Engineering
1966
Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering
Engineering
Kirby Laing Foundation
1966
Formerly Professor of Engineering (1966–2011)
Professor of Physics
Physics
1966
Professor of Geophysics
Earth Sciences
1966
Churchill Professor of Mathematics for Operational Research
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
Esso Petroleum Company Limited
1966
Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science, and Civilization
East Asian Studies
1966
Formerly Professor of Chinese (1966–2008)
Mary Marshall and Arthur Walton Professor of the Physiology of Reproduction
Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience
Francis Marshall
1967
Professor of Mathematical Physics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
1967
Professor of Slavonic Studies
Modern and Medieval Languages
1968
Simón Bolívar Professor of Latin-American Studies
Determined upon appointment
Government of Venezuela
1968
Professor of Chemistry
Physics & Chemistry
1968
Geoffrey Moorhouse Gibson Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
1970
Professor of Architecture
Architecture
1970
Professor of Economics
Economics
1970
Rank Professor of Engineering
Engineering
1971
Arthur Goodhart Visiting Professor in Legal Science
Law
Overbrook Foundation
1971
Alexander Todd Visiting Professor of Chemistry
Physics & Chemistry
1972
Professor of Law[8]
Law
1973
Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine
Public Health and Primary Care
1975
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
1975
Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Medicine
Clinical Biochemistry
1977
Professor of Radiology
Radiology
1977
Sheila Joan Smith Professor of Immunology
Medicine
Herchel Smith
1977
Formerly Sheila Joan Smith Professor of Tumour Immunology (1977–1988)
Professor of Paediatrics
Paediatrics
1978
Professor of Mathematical Physics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
1978
Paul Mellon Professor of American History
History
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
1980
Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Clinical Medicine
American Friends of Cambridge University
1982
Charles Darwin Professor of Animal Embryology
School of the Biological Sciences
Edward J. Bles
1982
Previously established as a personal professorship (1967–1981)
Jawaharlal Nehru Visiting Professor
Determined upon appointment
Edward J. Bles
1983
Professor of Japanese Studies
East Asian Studies
Keidanren
1984
Professor of Sociology
Sociology
1985
Professor of Haematology
Haematology
1986
KPMG Professor of Management Studies
Judge Business School
Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell & Co.
1986
Professor of Clinical Gerontology
Public Health and Primary Care
1987
Professor of Medicine
Medicine
1987
Herchel Smith Professor of Organic Chemistry
Chemistry
American Friends of Cambridge University
1988
Professor of Neurology
Clinical Neurosciences
1988
Professor of English and Applied Linguistics
Modern and Medieval Languages
1988
Sir Alan Cottrell Professor of Materials Science
Materials Science and Metallurgy
1988
Formerly Professor of Materials Science (1988–2012)
Professor of Theoretical Geophysics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
1989
George Pitt-Rivers Professor of Archaeological Science
Archaeology
1990
Professor of Neurosurgery
Clinical Neurosciences
1990
Diageo Professor of Management Studies
Judge Business School
1990
Professor of Molecular Endocrinology
Clinical Biochemistry
1990
Formerly Serono Professor of Molecular Endocrinology (1990–2014)
Professor of Land Economy
Land Economy
1991
Professor of Virology
Pathology
1991
S. J. Berwin Professor of Corporate Law
Law
S. J. Berwin and Co.
1991
GlaxoSmithKline Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis
Medicine
Glaxo Holdings
1991
Professor of Histopathology
Pathology
1992
G. I. Taylor Professor of Fluid Mechanics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Gladys Davies
1992
BBV Foundation Visiting Professor
Determined upon appointment
BBV Foundation, Bilbao
1992
John Wilfrid Linnett Visiting Professor of Chemistry
Cambridge
1993
Professor of Geography
Geography
1993
Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law
Law
American Friends of Cambridge University
1993
Professor of Statistical Science
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
1994
Professor of Computer Science
Computer Science and Technology
1994
Professor of European Law
Law
1994
Professor of Information Engineering
Engineering
1994
Professor of Immunology
Pathology
1995
Marks & Spencer Professor of Farm Animal Health, Food Science, and Food Safety
Veterinary Medicine
Marks & Spencer
1996
Professor of Surgery
Surgery
1996
Beckwith Professor of Management Studies
Judge Business School
Peter Beckwith
1996
Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor of International Relations
Politics and International Studies
British American Tobacco
1996
Professor of Medical Genetics
Medical Genetics
1997
Hans Rausing Professor of History and Philosophy of Science
History and Philosophy of Science
1997
Ursula Zoëllner Professor of Cancer Research
Oncology
F. A. Zoëllner
1997
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering
1997
Professor of Computer Technology
Computer Science and Technology
1997
Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management
Judge Business School
Sinyi Foundation
1997
Robert Sansom Professor of Computer Science
Computer Science and Technology
Robert Sansom
1998
Professor of Endocrinology
Medicine
1998
Dennis Gillings Professor of Health Management
Judge Business School
Dennis Gillings
1998
Margaret Thatcher Professor of Enterprise Studies
Judge Business School
Margaret Thatcher Foundation
1998
Unilever Professor of Molecular Sciences Informatics
Chemistry
Unilever
1999
BP Professor of Petroleum Science
Earth Sciences
1999
Grosvenor Professor of Real Estate Finance
Land Economy
1999
Schlumberger Professor of Complex Physical Systems
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
1999
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
1999
Professor of Education
Education
2000
Formerly Professor of Primary Education (2000–2005)
Professor of Education
Education
2000
Formerly Professor of Educational Leadership (2000–2007)
Professor of Linguistics
Modern and Medieval Languages
2000
Professor of Psychology in the Social Sciences
Psychology
2000
Professor of Plant Ecology
Plant Sciences
2000
Professor of Physical Geography
Geography
2000
Professor of Human Geography
Geography
2000
Professor of Psychiatry
Psychiatry
2000
N. M. Rothschild & Sons Professor of Mathematical Sciences
N. M. Rothschild & Sons
2001
Ex officio Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences
Marconi Professor of Communications Systems
Computer Science and Technology
Marconi Communications
2001
Professor of Oncological Pathology
Pathology
2001
Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Surgery
2001
Adam Smith Professor of Corporate Governance
Judge Business School
2001
Formerly Robert Monks Professorship of Corporate Governance (2001–11)
Professor of English
English
2001
Van Eck Professor of Engineering
Engineering
Fred van Eck
2001
Prince Philip Professor of Technology
Engineering
2001
Established to mark the 80th birthday of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the 25th anniversary of his election as Chancellor
Hitachi Professor of Electron Device Physics
Physics
Hitachi Ltd
2002
Leigh Trapnell Professor of Quantum Physics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Hazel N. Trapnell
2002
Professor of Accounting
Judge Business School
2002
Sandra Dawson Visiting Professor of Marketing, Strategy, and Innovation
Judge Business School
Gianni Montezemolo
Joan Montezemolo
2002
Formerly Visiting Professorship of Marketing, Strategy, and Innovation (2002–2013)
Professor of Environmental Systems Analysis
Geography
2003
Professor of Plant Systematics and Evolution
Plant Sciences
2003
Professor of Gastroenterology
Medicine
2003
Herchel Smith Professorship of Pure Mathematics
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
Herchel Smith
2004
Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular Genetics
Genetics
Herchel Smith
2004
Professor of Education
Education
2004
Professor of Education
Education
2004
2017
Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience
Determined upon appointment
Woco Foundation of Canada
2004
Professor of Information Engineering
Engineering
2004
Herchel Smith Professor of Physics
Physics
Herchel Smith
2004
Herchel Smith Professor of Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Herchel Smith
2005
Professor of Family Research
Psychology
2005
French Government Visiting Professor
Modern and Medieval Languages
2005
Professor of Education
Education
2005
Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular Biology
Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience
Herchel Smith
2006
Sigrid Rausing Professor of Social Anthropology
Social Anthropology
Sigrid M. Rausing
2006
Formerly Sigrid Rausing Professor of Collaborative Anthropology (2006–11)
Miriam Rothschild Professorship of Conservation Biology
Zoology
Lisbet Rausing Charitable Fund
2006
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Professor of Modern Arabic Studies
Middle Eastern Studies
Qaboos bin Said al Said
2006
Professor of Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
2006
Professor of Physics
Physics
2006
Professor of Comparative Pathology
Veterinary Medicine
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
2006
Formerly Professor of Veterinary Science (2006–07)
Genzyme Professor of Experimental Medicine
Medicine
Genzyme Corporation
2006
Moran Professor of Conservation and Development
Geography
James Wilson
Jane Wilson (née Hepburne Scott)
2006
Harding Professor of Statistics in Public Life
Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
Winton Charitable Foundation
2006
Formerly Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk (2006–2020)
Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business and Enterprise
Judge Business School
High Commission of India
2007
Li Ka Shing Professor of Oncology
Oncology
Li Ka Shing Foundation
2007
Prince Philip Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Zoology
2007
Established to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the installation of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Chancellor
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Professor of Finance
Judge Business School
Eranda Rothchild Foundation
2007
Professor of Experimental Astrophysics
Physics
2008
Professor of Education
Education
2008
A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture
Classics
A. G. Leventis Foundation
2008
Tata Steel Professor of Metallurgy
Materials Science and Metallurgy
Tata Steel (UK) Ltd
2008
Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology
Veterinary Medicine
2009
Formerly Professor of Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology (2009)
Diane Middlebrook and Carl Djerassi Visiting Professor of Gender Studies
Politics and International Studies
Carl Djerassi
2009
Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor of Urban Design
Architecture
D. G. Marshall of Cambridge Trust
2010
Formerly Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor of Sustainable Urban Design (2010–15)
Visiting Professor of Architecture
Architecture
2010
Professor of Photonic Systems and Displays
Engineering
2010
Pembroke Visiting Professor of International Finance
Judge Business School
2010
BP Foundation McKenzie Professor of Earth Sciences
Earth Sciences
BP Foundation
2010
Humanitas Visiting Professors
Institute for Strategic Dialogue
2010
Professor of Historical and Cultural Geography
Geography
2011
Formerly Professor of Demography (2011–14)
Sultan Qaboos Professor of Abrahamic Faiths and Shared Values
Divinity
Qaboos bin Said al Said
2011
Professor of Education
Education
2011
Dyson Professor of Fluid Mechanics
Engineering
Dyson Technology Limited
2011
Regius Professor of Engineering
Engineering
2011
Established to commemorate the retirement of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Chancellor
Harold Samuel Professor of Law and Environmental Policy
Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge
Estate Management Development Fund
2012
Chong Hua Professor of Chinese Development
Politics and International Studies
Chong Hua Educational Foundation
2012
Professor of Sustainable Reaction Engineering
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
2012
Professor of Politics
Politics and International Studies
2012
Professor of Engineering
Engineering
2012
John Harvard Professor of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Alternating between institutions in the Schools of Arts and Humanities, and of the Humanities and Social Sciences
2013
Stephen W. Hawking Professor of Cosmology
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Avery–Tsui Foundation[9]
2014
Professor of History of Art
History of Art
2015
LEGO Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning[10]
Education
The LEGO Foundation[11]
2015
Janeway Professor of Financial Economics
Economics
Weslie and William Janeway
2015
Professor of Infrastructure Geotechnics
Engineering
2015
El-Erian Professor of Economics
Economics
Mohamed El-Erian
2016
Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law
Law
Sir David Li, Li family, Robinson College and anonymous benefactors[12]
2016
Professor of Public Policy
Politics and International Studies
2016
Russell R. Geiger Professor of Crop Science
Plant Sciences
Russell R. Geiger
2016
Professor of Information and Communications
Engineering
2016
Professor of Computer Science
Computer Science and Technology
2016
Al-Kindi Professor
Genetics
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
2017
Bennett Professor of Public Policy
Politics and International Studies
Peter W. Bennett
2017
Dr John C. Taylor Professor of Public Innovation
Engineering
John Taylor
2017
Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Professor of the Deep History and Archaeology of Africa
Archaeology
Jonathan and Jennifer Oppenheimer Foundation
2017
Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology
Medicine
Versus Arthritis
2018
Formerly ARUK Professorship of Rheumatology (2018–2019)
Professor of Digital Humanities
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
2018
Professor of Accounting
Judge Business School
2018
DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning
Computer Science and Technology
DeepMind[13]
2019
Nanjing Professor of Technology and Innovation
Engineering
Nanjing Healthcare Investment Area and Development Company
2019
Caroline Humphrey Professor of the Anthropology of Inner Asia
Social Anthropology
Sigrid Rausing Trust
2020
Sheila Joan Smith Professor of Medicine
Medicine
Herchel Smith[14]
2020
Professor of Autism Research
Psychiatry
Autism Research Trust[14]
2021
Gnodde Goldman Sachs Professor of Neuroinformatics
Psychiatry
Goldman Sachs Gives UK on behalf of Richard and Kara Gnodde[15]
2021
Andreas von Hirsch Professor of Penal Theory and Ethics
Criminology
Andreas von Hirsch[16]
2021
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