Notable alumni of University of Glasgow

Adam Smith

non-fiction writer · 1723–1790

Scottish moral philosopher and political economist (1723–1790)

James Watt

technician · 1736–1819

British engineer (1736–1819)

David Livingstone

explorer · 1813–1873

Scottish missionary and explorer (1813-1873)

William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin

university teacher · 1824–1907

British physicist and engineer (1824–1907)

William Ramsay

archaeologist · 1852–1916

Scottish chemist (1852–1916)

John Logie Baird

inventor · 1888–1946

Scottish inventor, demonstrating the world's first working television (1888–1946)

Nicola Sturgeon

jurist · b. 1970

First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023

Gerard Butler

film actor · b. 1969

Scottish actor and film producer

John Knox

Christian minister · 1514–1572

Scottish clergyman, writer and historian (1514–1572)

John L. Hall

university teacher · b. 1934

American physicist (born 1934)

Bonar Law

chess player · 1858–1923

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923

James George Frazer

mythographer · 1854–1941

Scottish social anthropologist (1854–1941)

Jocelyn Bell Burnell

astrophysicist · b. 1943

British astrophysicist (born 1943)

Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli

anti-apartheid activist · 1898–1967

South African politician (1898–1967)

Joseph Black

university teacher · 1728–1799

Scottish physicist and chemist (1728–1799)

R. D. Laing

non-fiction writer · 1927–1989

unorthodox Scottish psychiatrist

A. J. Cronin

autobiographer · 1896–1981

Scottish novelist (1896–1981)

Henry Campbell-Bannerman

diplomat · 1836–1908

British Prime Minister from 1905 to 1908 (1836–1908)

David MacMillan

university teacher · b. 1968

British chemist (1968-)

Joseph Dalton Hooker

scientific collector · 1817–1911

British botanist, lichenologist, and surgeon (1817–1911)

John Boyd Orr

director general · 1880–1971

Scottish nutritionist, Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (1880-1971)

Tobias Smollett

novelist · 1721–1771

18th-century poet and author from Scotland

Humza Yousaf

politician · b. 1985

6th First Minister of Scotland

James Boswell

diarist · 1740–1795

Scottish lawyer, diarist and author (1740–1795)

John Buchan

science fiction writer · 1875–1940

Scottish author and politician (1875–1940)

Francis Hutcheson

philosopher · 1694–1746

Scottish philosopher (1694–1746)

Colin MacLaurin

mathematician · 1698–1746

Scottish mathematician (1698–1746)

Kazimierz Kuratowski

topologist · 1896–1980

Polish mathematician (1896–1980)

John Toland

philosopher · 1670–1722

Irish philosopher (1670-1722)

Dawda Kairaba Jawara

head of government · 1924–2019

1st President of the Gambia (1924-2019)

Scottish novelist (1922–1987)

Emeli Sandé

pop musician · b. 1987

British singer

Steven Moffat

science fiction writer · b. 1961

Scottish television writer and producer

Cotton Mather

pamphleteer · 1663–1728

American religious minister and scientific writer (1663–1728)

William Boyd

film director · b. 1952

Scottish novelist, short story writer, and screen writer (born 1952)

Donald Dewar

politician · 1937–2000

Scottish politician, 1st First Minister of Scotland (in office from 1999 to 2000)

Robert Broom

paleoanthropologist · 1866–1951

South African doctor and paleontologist (1866–1951)

John Kerr

cleric · 1824–1907

Scottish physicist and pioneer in the field of electro-optics (1824–1907)

James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce

legal counselor · 1838–1922

British academic (1838-1922)

Vince Cable

economist · b. 1943

British politician (born 1943)

Mhairi Black

television actor · b. 1994

Scottish politician (born 1994)

Thomas Andrews

chemist · 1813–1885

Irish chemist and physicist (1813–1885)

veterinary surgeon and writer (1916-1995)

Charles Kennedy

journalist · 1959–2015

British politician (1959-2015)

Robert Stirling

cleric · 1790–1878

clergyman, engineer, inventor of the Stirling engine (1790–1878)

Charles Mackay

journalist · 1814–1889

British writer (1814-1889)

William Cullen

surgeon · 1710–1790

Scottish physician, chemist and agriculturalist; (1710-1790)

John Smith

politician · 1938–1994

Labour Party leader from Scotland (1938-1994)

Peter Mullan

television actor · b. 1959

British actor, filmmaker and socialist

Thomas Campbell

musicologist · 1777–1844

Scottish poet (1777-1844)

James Wilson

jurist · 1742–1798

Justice on the US Supreme Court (1742-1798)

Dugald Stewart

philosopher · 1753–1828

Scottish philosopher and mathematician

Mark Millar

comics writer · b. 1969

Scottish comic book writer

William Edward Ayrton

electrical engineer · 1847–1908

English physicist and electrical engineer (1847-1908)

Armando Iannucci

satirist · b. 1963

Scottish comedian, film director and producer

Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet

philosopher of mind · 1788–1856

Scottish metaphysician (1788-1856)

Menzies Campbell

sprinter · 1941–2025

Scottish politician (1941–2025)

Robert Simson

historian of mathematics · 1687–1768

British mathematician; (1687-1768)

John Robison

philosopher · 1739–1805

Scottish physicist and mathematician (1739–1805)

Denise Mina

comics writer · b. 1966

British crime writer and playwright

Maxim Katz

YouTuber · b. 1984

Russian political and public figure

William Hunter

anatomist · 1718–1783

British anatomist and physician (1718-1783)

Ken MacLeod

blogger · b. 1954

Scottish science fiction writer

David Douglas

explorer · 1799–1834

Scottish botanist (1799–1834)

Edwin Morgan

visual poet · 1920–2010

Scottish poet and translator (1920-2010)

David Beaton

Catholic bishop · 1494–1546

Catholic cardinal (1494-1546)

Australian philosopher and academic (1920–2012)

Cosmo Gordon Lang

Anglican priest · 1864–1945

British archbishop and clergyman (1864-1945)

John Grierson

film editor · 1898–1972

Scottish documentary pioneer (1898–1972)

Katherine Grainger

rower · b. 1975

British rower

British intelligence officer and spy for the Soviet Union (1913-1995)

Charles Athanase Walckenaer

arachnologist · 1771–1852

French civil servant and scientist (1771-1852)

Nicholas Parsons

comedian · 1923–2020

British actor, rector and radio-TV presenter (1923-2020)

Nikki Cross

professional wrestler · b. 1989

British professional wrestler

Polly Higgins

environmentalist · 1968–2019

Scottish barrister, advocate and expert in ecocide

Takamine Jōkichi

chemist · 1854–1922

Japanese chemist (1854–1922)

Ruth Davidson

journalist · b. 1978

Scottish politician and peer

Scottish historian (1799-1875)

John Maclean

socialist · 1879–1923

Scottish schoolteacher and revolutionary socialist (1879-1923)

Des Browne, Baron Browne of Ladyton

politician · b. 1952

British politician (born 1952)

William Gemmell Cochran

university teacher · 1909–1980

British / American statistician (1909–1980)

William Sharp

biographer · 1855–1905

Scottish writer (1855–1905)

Scottish doctor and botanist (1817-1878)

James Wordie

explorer · 1889–1962

Scottish polar explorer (1889–1962)

John Scott Russell

civil engineer · 1808–1882

British naval engineer (1808–1882)

Archibald Scott Couper

chemist · 1831–1892

British chemist (1831–1892)

Ronald Drever

physicist · 1931–2017

British physicist (1931-2017)

Robert Caldwell

Dravidologist · 1814–1891

British orientalist and dravidologist (1814–1891)

Edward Caird

ethicist · 1835–1908

British philosopher (1835–1908)

Robert Giffen

statistician · 1837–1910

British statistician (1837-1910)

Robert Graham

botanist · 1786–1845

British botanist (1786-1845)

British New Testament scholar and theologian (1939-2020)

John Aitken

meteorologist · 1839–1919

Scottish meteorologist, physicist and marine engineer (1839-1919)

Henry Faulds

scientist · 1843–1930

Scottish physician, missionary and scientist (1843–1930)

Michaela Tabb

snooker referee · b. 1967

Scottish Snooker Referee

William Wilson Hunter

beamter · 1840–1900

Scottish historian and statistician (1840-1900)

Donald Ewen Cameron

psychiatrist · 1901–1967

Scottish-American psychiatrist most famous for his involvement in the Project MKULTRA of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. (1901–1967)

Faia Younan

chanteuse · b. 1992

Syrian-Swedish singer

Bruno Touschek

university teacher · 1921–1978

Austrian physicist (1921–1978)

Richard Dobbs Spaight

farmer · 1758–1802

8th governor of North Carolina (1758-1802)

James Thomson

glaciologist · 1822–1892

British engineer (1822–1892)

Andrew Watson

association football player · 1857–1921

Scottish footballer (1857-1921)

John Wilson

literary critic · 1785–1854

Scottish advocate, literary critic and author (1785-1854)

William Smellie

obstetrician · 1697–1763

Scottish obstetrician (1697–1763)

Gavin Hamilton

anthropologist · 1723–1798

Scottish neoclassical history painter, trader in sculptures and paintings (1723–1798)

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll

politician · 1629–1685

Scottish politician

Emily Maguire

field hockey player · b. 1987

Scottish field hockey player

British author, theologian, radio and TV presenter and Church of Scotland minister (1907-1978)

William McIlvanney

journalist · 1936–2015

British writer, precursor of tartan noir genre (1936–2015)

Scottish footballer and manager (1927–2008)

Friedrich Trendelenburg

university teacher · 1844–1924

German surgeon (1844–1924)

Scottish footballer and manager (born 1943)

Anas Sarwar

politician · b. 1983

Leader of the Scottish Labour Party

British chemist (1817-84)

Matthew Baillie

anatomist · 1761–1823

Scottish anatomist, (1761-1823)

György Schöpflin

political scientist · 1939–2021

Hungarian academic and politician (born 1939)

Ron Donachie

film actor · b. 1956

Scottish actor

Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey

literary critic · 1773–1850

Scottish politician, judge, literary critic (1773-1850)

Winnie Ewing

autobiographer · 1929–2023

Scottish politician (1929–2023)

Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet

military officer · 1761–1827

Scottish soldier and colonial administrator

John Mitchel

soldier · 1815–1875

Irish politician (1815-1875)

John Nicolson

journalist · b. 1961

Scottish politician and journalist (born 1961)

Helen MacInnes

novelist · 1907–1985

20th-century Scottish-American author

Scottish botanist and physician (1683/5 – 1760)

John Anderson

philosopher · 1893–1962

Scottish-born Australian philosopher (1893–1962)

Presbyterian preacher and biblical scholar from Scotland (1823-1894)

Andrew Ure

chemist · 1778–1857

Scottish doctor and chemist

Henry Adefope

diplomat · 1926–2012

Foreign minister of Nigeria (1926-2012)

Andrew Neil

broadcaster · b. 1949

Scottish journalist and broadcaster

Abdullah Abdurahman

politician · 1872–1940

South African politician and physician (1872–1940)

Scottish golfer and rugby union player (1869-1937)

John Jackson

university teacher · 1887–1958

Scottish astronomer (1887-1958)

Regina Ip

Hong Kong civil servant · b. 1950

Chinese politician in Hong Kong

Jenny Gilruth

politician · b. 1985

Scottish politician

Averil Cameron

historian of classical antiquity · 1940–2026

English historian of late antiquity (born 1940)

Neil MacCormick

philosopher · 1941–2009

Scottish legal scholar and politician (1941-2009)

Robert Wood

philologist · 1717–1771

British traveller, classical scholar, civil servant and politician (1717–1771)

William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling

explorer · 1570–1640

Scottish courtier and poet

John Anderson

natural philosopher · 1726–1796

scientist, philosopher, and educator of the Scottish Enlightenment; (1726-1796)

John Gibson Lockhart

linguist · 1794–1854

Scottish writer and editor (1794-1854)

Fazle Hasan Abed

charity worker · 1936–2019

Bangladeshi social worker and the founder of BRAC

Aikitu Tanakadate

geophysicist · 1856–1952

Japanese physicist

William Boog Leishman

bacteriologist · 1865–1926

British Army general (1865–1926)

Shona Robison

politician · b. 1966

Scottish politician (born 1966)

Russian philosopher

Muriel Robertson

botanist · 1883–1973

Scottish biologist

James McGill

merchant · 1744–1813

founder of McGill University, Montreal (1744-1813)

William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart

diplomat · 1755–1843

Scottish soldier and diplomat (1755-1843)

John Spottiswoode

Christian minister · 1565–1639

Minister of the Church of Scotland, Archbishop of St Andrews, historian

Churchman and diplomat

British poet, lexicographer, political writer and memoirist

James Guthrie

painter · 1859–1930

Scottish artist (1859–1930)

Scottish and British curler

German-American physicist and microbiologist

William Arrol

civil engineer · 1839–1913

British politician (1839-1913)

Janice Galloway

novelist · b. 1955

Scottish writer

Thomas Muir

university teacher · 1844–1934

British mathematician and educationalist (1844–1934)

Matthew Stewart

mathematician · 1717–1785

Scottish mathematician (1717-1785)

Caroline Abel

economist · b. 1972

Seychellois economist, Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles

Alan Brown

civil engineer · b. 1970

Scottish politician (born 1970)

Obaid Siddiqi

geneticist · 1932–2013

Indian geneticist (1932-2013)

Lisa Cameron

clinical psychologist · b. 1972

Scottish politician (born 1972)

Scottish badminton player and sports administrator (1941-2026)

Kenneth White

scholar of English · 1936–2023

Scottish poet, academic and writer (1936–2023)

British politician (1945-2006)

James McCune Smith

pharmacist · 1813–1865

American physician and abolitionist (1813-1865)

George Watt

botanist · 1851–1930

Scottish botanist (1851-1930)

British botanist and palaeobotanist (1874–1960)

Robert Thomson Leiper

physician · 1881–1969

British parasitologist and helminthologist (1881–1969)

John Isaac Thornycroft

engineer · 1843–1928

British shipbuilder (1843–1928)

Lloyd Cole

songwriter · b. 1961

English singer and songwriter

English zoologist and camouflage specialist (1900-1987)

Philippa Whitford

surgeon · b. 1958

Scottish physician and politician (born 1958)

Manda Scott

novelist · b. 1962

British writer

Jesse Waugh

painter · b. 1974

American artist

Sir Douglas Flint

bank manager · b. 1955

British businessman

Hugh Grant

entrepreneur · b. 1958

Scottish business executive

John Millar

philosopher · 1735–1801

Scottish philosopher, jurist and historian

William Campbell

missionary · 1841–1921

Scottish Presbyterian missionary to Taiwan (1841–1921)

Masataka Taketsuru

politician · 1894–1979

Japanese businessman (1894–1979)

Màiri McAllan

lawyer · b. 1993

Scottish politician

Robert Horne, 1st Viscount Horne of Slamannan

university teacher · 1871–1940

British politician (1871-1940)

Hal Duncan

novelist · b. 1971

Scottish writer

Elham Aminzadeh

politician · b. 1964

Iranian academic/lawmaker/cabinet vice-president

John Keenan

Catholic bishop · b. 1964

British bishop

Angela Crawley

politician · b. 1987

Scottish politician (born 1987)

Sheina Marshall

marine biologist · 1896–1977

Scottish marine biologist (1896-1977)

Angela Constance

social worker · b. 1970

Scottish politician (born 1970)

James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry

politician · 1662–1711

Scottish duke

Robert Williams Buchanan

novelist · 1841–1901

Scottish poet, novelist and dramatist (1841–1901)

James McCosh

philosopher · 1811–1894

British philosopher (1811–1894)

William Windham

politician · 1750–1810

British politician; (1750-1810)

Robert Flint

philosopher · 1838–1910

British theologian (1838-1910)

Donald Kaberuka

economist · b. 1951

Rwandan economist

Fergus Ewing

politician · b. 1957

Scottish politician (born 1957)

Gilbert Highet

philologist · 1906–1978

British classicist, writer, and historian (1906–1978)

James Maxton

politician · 1885–1946

British politician (1885-1946)

James D. A. Boyle

university teacher · b. 1959

Scottish legal academic

British mycologist (1910-2003)

John Jamieson

lexicographer · 1759–1838

Scottish lexicographer (1759-1838)