Notable alumni of University of Aberdeen

Robert Brown

scientific collector · 1773–1858

Scottish botanist (1773-1858), discoverer of the cell nucleus and of Brownian Motion (1773–1858)

John James Rickard Macleod

physiologist · 1876–1935

Nobel prize-winning Scottish physician and physiologist; co-discoverer of insulin

George MacDonald

philosopher · 1824–1905

Scottish writer and Christian minister (1824–1905)

James Macpherson

translator · 1736–1796

British writer, poet, translator and politician (1736-1796)

Iain Glen

television actor · b. 1961

Scottish actor

Thomas Reid

philosopher · 1710–1796

Scottish philosopher (1710–1796)

Ali Smith

short story writer · b. 1962

British author and journalist

Alexander Bain

philosopher · 1818–1903

Scottish philosopher and educationalist (1818–1903)

David Gill

university teacher · 1843–1914

Scottish astronomer (1843-1914)

Alistair Darling

biographer · 1953–2023

British Labour Party politician (1953–2023)

William Roxburgh

scientific collector · 1759–1815

British surgeon and botanist (1751–1815)

Patrick Manson

parasitologist · 1844–1922

Scottish parasitologist (1844-1922)

James Legge

sinologist · 1815–1897

Scottish missionary and translator (1815–1897)

Alex Kapranos

songwriter · b. 1972

Scottish rock musician

William Robertson Smith

biblical scholar · 1846–1894

Scottish orientalist and minister of the Free Church of Scotland (1846–1894)

James Gibbs

architect · 1683–1754

Scottish architect (1683–1754)

John Jeffries

meteorologist · 1744–1819

Boston physician, scientist, and military surgeon

Scottish fiction, history and travel writer (1899–1974)

Hugh Falconer

paleoanthropologist · 1808–1865

Scottish scientist (1808–1865)

Tessa Jowell

politician · 1947–2018

British politician (1947–2018)

Arthur Keith

anthropologist · 1866–1955

British anatomist and anthropologist (1866–1955)

Alistair Carmichael

politician · b. 1965

British politician (born 1965)

Andrew Murray

Christian minister · 1828–1917

South African minister (1828-1917)

Reynold A. Nicholson

university teacher · 1868–1945

British orientalist (1868–1945)

James Mackintosh

philosopher · 1765–1832

British politician (1765-1832)

Polly Higgins

environmentalist · 1968–2019

Scottish barrister, advocate and expert in ecocide

James Beattie

linguist · 1735–1803

Scottish poet, moralist and philosopher (1735-1803)

Robert Morison

botanist · 1620–1683

British botanist (1620-1683)

Sir James Outram, 1st Baronet

military commander · 1803–1863

British general (1803–1863)

James Burnett, Lord Monboddo

linguist · 1714–1799

Scottish judge, scholar of language evolution and philosopher

Henry Ogg Forbes

scientific collector · 1851–1932

Scottish explorer, ornithologist and botanist (1851-1932)

Thomas Urquhart

genealogist · 1611–1660

Scottish writer and translator

William Mitchell Ramsay

biblical scholar · 1851–1939

Scottish archaeologist and New Testament scholar (1851-1939)

William MacGillivray

paleobotanist · 1796–1852

British naturalist and ornithologist (1796–1852)

James Augustus Grant

scientific collector · 1827–1892

Scottish explorer and collector (1827 – 1892)

Adam Roberts

science fiction writer · b. 1965

British writer known for speculative fiction and parody novels; literature and writing academic

British actor

William Thornton

painter · 1759–1828

British-American physician, inventor, painter and architect (1759-1828)

British biblical scholar (1910-1990)

Alexander Garden

military physician · 1730–1791

Physician, botanist and zoologist (1730-1791)

Augustus Desiré Waller

physiologist · 1856–1922

physiologist (1856–1922)

Gilbert Burnet

linguist · 1643–1715

Minister of the Church of Scotland, Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury; (1643-1716)

George Henry Mackenzie

chess player · 1837–1891

American journalist (1837–1891)

Alfred William Alcock

carcinologist · 1859–1933

British military physician and carcinologist (1859–1933)

John Abercrombie

philosopher · 1780–1844

Scottish physician (1780–1844)

Emun Elliott

film actor · b. 1983

Scottish actor

James Francis Edward Keith

general field marshal · 1696–1758

German general

Alexander John Forsyth

clergyman · 1769–1843

British clergyman and inventor (1769-1843)

George Chrystal

university teacher · 1851–1911

British mathematician (1851-1911)

George Colman the Younger

theatre manager · 1762–1836

English dramatist and writer (1762-1836)

John Wolcot

poet · 1738–1819

British satirist and physician; his pseudonym was Peter Pindar

Neil Arnott

inventor · 1788–1874

Scottish physician (1788-1874)

British lawyer and ethnologist (1827–1881)

Hannatu Musawa

politician · b. 1974

Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy

Alexander Duff

theologian · 1806–1878

Scottish Christian missionary in India (1806–1878)

British botanist (1806-1879)

John Mudge

physician · 1721–1793

British doctor

Scottish poet and novelist (1928–1998)

Momus

music journalist · b. 1960

Scottish songwriter and author (born 1960)

George Wishart

theologian · 1513–1546

Scottish Protestant martyr; (1513-1546)

Zhang Shizhao

journalist · 1881–1973

Chinese intellectual (1881 – 1973)

Kevin Volans

musicologist · b. 1949

South African-Irish composer (born 1949)

British scientist

Altay Kölginov

statesperson · b. 1978

Kazakh politician, Deputy Prime Minister (2022–), Mayor of Astana (2019–2022)

Scottish tenor (1927–2010)

Angus Robertson

journalist · b. 1969

British politician (born 1969)

Sir John Macpherson, 1st Baronet

politician · 1745–1821

British politician

Thomas Sutherland

banker · 1834–1922

British politician (1834-1922)

Kirsty Blackman

council member · b. 1986

Scottish politician (born 1986)

Tommy Sheppard

politician · b. 1959

Scottish politician (born 1959)

British botanist (1882–1933)

John Stuart Blackie

political writer · 1809–1895

Scottish scholar and man of letters (1809–1895)

Kenneth Onwuka Dike

academic · 1917–1983

Nigerian historian (1917-1983)

Sir Donald Stewart, 1st Baronet

military personnel · 1824–1900

British field marshal (1824–1900)

George Campbell

linguist · 1719–1796

figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, born 1719

Andrew Brunson

parson · b. 1968

American pastor

Edward Ellice

merchant · 1783–1863

British politician (1783-1863)

Horatius Bonar

non-fiction writer · 1808–1889

British minister and poet (1808-1889)

Canadian economist (1796–1872)

Robert Adamson

chemist · 1821–1848

Scottish chemist and photographer (1821–1848)

Robert Davidson

inventor · 1804–1894

British inventor, built first electric locomotive (1804–1894)

Alison Thewliss

politician · b. 1982

Scottish politician (born 1982)

George Chalmers

statistician · 1742–1825

British antiquarian; (1742-1825)

Nicol Stephen, Baron Stephen

politician · b. 1960

British politician (born 1960)

Robert Clark

explorer · 1882–1950

Scottish marine zoologist (1882–1950)

William Barclay

jurist · 1546–1608

Scottish jurist (1546–1608)

Alexander Gerard

philosopher · 1728–1795

Scottish minister, academic and philosophical writer

John Hill Burton

biographer · 1809–1881

British academic (1809-1881)

John Lesley

Catholic bishop · 1527–1596

Scottish bishop (1527–1596)

Hugh Mercer

military officer · 1726–1777

Jacobite and General in the American Revolutionary War

British philosopher

George Watt

botanist · 1851–1930

Scottish botanist (1851-1930)

Donald Petrie

scientific collector · 1846–1925

New Zealand botanist and botanical collector (1846–1925)

George Siemens

university teacher · b. 1970

Canadian academic

British politician (born 1957)

Phil Bennion

politician · b. 1954

British politician (born 1954)

George Jamesone

painter · 1589–1644

Scottish painter (1587-1644)

Sandy Gall

foreign correspondent · 1927–2025

British journalist (1927–2025)

British theologian (1934-2015)

Stewart Stevenson

banker · b. 1946

Scottish politician (born 1946)

William MacGregor

scientific collector · 1846–1919

British colonial governor and administrator (1846-1919)

Charles Chree

physicist · 1860–1928

British physicist (1860-1928)

British protozoologist & scholar (1883-1956)

Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat

politician · 1667–1747

Scottish Jacobite and Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat (1667-1747)

David Forbes Hendry

econometrician · b. 1944

British econometrician

British philologist

James Hastings

theologian · 1852–1922

British minister and scholar (1852–1922)

Scottish film director (1972-)

Scottish classical scholar and historian (1701-1757)

Scottish poet (1921–2012)

Isabella Gordon

carcinologist · 1901–1988

Scottish carcinologist (1901-1988)

Andrew Bowie

politician · b. 1987

Scottish Conservative Party politician and MP (born 1987)

Margaret Mitchell

AI ethicist · b. 2000

researcher, natural language processing

Ghanaian botanist and academic

James Cantlie

physician · 1851–1926

British doctor and medical administrator (1851-1926)

James Murdoch

japanologist · 1856–1921

British journalist and academic

Alexander Ross

French–English translator · 1591–1654

Scottish writer and controversialist (1591–1654)

Sue Black

forensic anthropologist · b. 1961

forensic anthropologist; anatomist

James Marr

polar explorer · 1902–1965

Scottish marine biologist and polar explorer (1902–1965)

British scholar (1885–1948)

William Chalmers Burns

missionary · 1815–1868

Missionary in China (1815-1868)

Meg Bateman

docent · b. 1959

Scottish writer

John Gregory

medical researcher · 1724–1773

Scottish physician, writer, and moralist (1724-1773)

British biochemist and epidemiologist

British earl (1957-2016)

Archibald Forbes

journalist · 1838–1900

British war correspondent (1838–1900)

Sir James Wylie

surgeon · 1768–1854

Scottish imperial physician and reformer in Russia

Kezia Dugdale

blogger · b. 1981

former Scottish politician (born 1981)

Alexander Macbain

celticist · 1855–1907

Scottish philologist (1855–1907)

British botanist (1755-1812)

Scottish astronomer (1814-1892)

Zbigniew Kabata

parasitologist · 1924–2014

Polish parasitologist (1924-2014)

Adaku Ufere-Awoonor

entrepreneur · b. 1985

Nigerian entrepreneur

Bill Schuette

politician · b. 1953

American politician

Robert Rudmose-Brown

polar explorer · 1879–1957

British explorer (1879-1957)

Christine Orengo

biochemist · b. 1955

Professor of Bioinformatics

Ross Thomson

politician · b. 1987

Scottish politician (born 1987)

Thomas Robertson Sim

bryologist · 1858–1938

South African botanist (1858-1938)

British Hand of the Cause (1874-1925)

Jerry Gana

academic · b. 1945

Nigerian politician

(1893 - 1981), Scottish novelist, poet, educator

British author

British mathematician

Robin Harper

politician · b. 1940

British politician (born 1940)

Katy Clark

trade unionist · b. 1967

British politician (born 1967)

American theologian

Peter Moran

Catholic bishop · b. 1935

Catholic bishop

George Gleig

Anglican theologian · 1753–1840

Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (1753-1840)

Adolph Saphir

Christian minister · 1831–1891

Hungarian-born presbyterian minister (1831-1891)

Saleh al-Mutlaq

politician · b. 1947

Iraqi politician

British classical scholar (1870–1952)

Alexander Mackenzie Fraser

military officer · 1758–1809

British Army general

British peer and politician

Scottish geologist

John Pringle Nichol

cleric · 1804–1859

Scottish educator, phrenologist, astronomer and economist (1804–1859)

Natalie McGarry

politician · b. 1981

Scottish politician (born 1981)

Archibald Robertson

watercolorist · 1765–1835

Scottish-American artist (1765-1835)

Thomas Davidson

philosopher · 1840–1900

Scottish-American philosopher and lecturer (1840-1900)

botanist and mycologist (1851-1919)

Scottish writer and journalist (1708–1770)

Helen Ogston

suffragette · 1883–1973

UK suffragette known for her whip

Bahamian sprinter and politician

British alpine skier

Konstantinos Floros

military personnel · b. 1961

Greek Army general

Sheila Ritchie

politician · b. 1957

British politician (Liberal Democrats) (born 1967)

Prince Hamid Armah

politician · b. 1981

politician in Ghana

John Stenhouse

chemist · 1809–1880

Scottish chemist (1809-1880)

George Mackenzie

heraldist · 1636–1691

Scottish lawyer, Lord Advocate, essayist and legal writer (1636 – 1691)

American biblical scholar

Mairi Gougeon

politician · b. 1985

Scottish politician (born 1985)

Paul Streeten

economist · 1917–2019

Austrian-British development economist

British biochemist (1903–1996)

Anne Begg

politician · b. 1955

British politician (born 1955)

Icelandic writer

Mark McDonald

politician · b. 1980

Scottish politician (born 1980)

Paul Wheelhouse

politician · b. 1970

Scottish politician (born 1970)

Richard Baker

politician · b. 1974

Scottish politician (born 1974)

Alasdair Allan

politician · b. 1971

Scottish politician (born 1971)

Robert Hall

theologian · 1764–1831

British Baptist pastor

Roelof Kruisinga

politician · 1922–2012

Dutch politician (1922-2012)

British academic

Cosmo Innes

antiquarian · 1798–1874

British academic

Hector Munro Macdonald

physicist · 1865–1935

British mathematician (1865-1935)

Henry Callaway

Anglican priest · 1817–1890

Missionary, Bishop of St. John's (1817–1890)

British swimmer, Olympic athlete, Commonwealth Games gold medallist

Alexander Ogston

university teacher · 1844–1929

British surgeon (1844–1929)

John Gray McKendrick

physiologist · 1841–1926

Scottish physiologist (1841-1926)

Thomas Keith

gynecologist · 1827–1895

British surgeon and photographer (1827-1895)

British mountain climber (1932–1970)

William Dunbar

explorer · 1750–1810

American explorer (1749–1810)

James Clark

physician · 1788–1870

British Physician-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria (1788–1870)

Grant R. Osborne

theologian · 1942–2018

American theologian (1942–2018)

James Leith

military personnel · 1763–1816

British Army officer (1763–1816)

UK-based German herpetologist

British writer

George Fordyce

chemist · 1736–1802

British chemist (1736-1802)

Sir Andrew Clark, 1st Baronet

pathologist · 1826–1893

British pathologist (1826–1893)

Arthur Landsborough Thomson

ornithologist · 1890–1977

Scottish ornithologist (1890–1977)

British actor (1930–2009)

Kirstene Hair

politician · b. 1989

British politician, Conservative Party MP for Angus, elected June 2017