British Academy President Sir David Cannadine receives honorary degree from UoL

At a ceremony last night (November 21), the University of London awarded an honorary degree to the British Academy President Professor Sir David Cannadine in recognition of his achievements in academia and public life.

The honorary degree was presented by the University’s Chancellor, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, at the University of London’s Foundation Day.

The ceremony, which took place in Bloomsbury’s Senate House, marked the 181st anniversary of the creation of the University of London by Royal Charter on 8 November 1836.

As well as President of the British Academy, Professor Sir David Cannadine FBA is Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University, Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford. He is the author of many books and biographies, the most recent of which is Victorious Century: The United Kingdom, 1800-1906. Sir David is a Trustee of the Wolfson Foundation, the Royal Academy, and the Gordon Brown Archive to name but a few. He also sits on the Bank of England Banknote Advisory Committee, is Vice Chair of the Westminster Abbey Fabric Commission, and Vice Chair of the Trustees of Historic Royal Palaces. Sir David was awarded a Doctor of Literature honoris causa.

Honorary degrees also went to Professor Ursula Martin CBE FREng FRSE, of the University of Oxford, a mathematician and computer scientist who worked for nearly half her career at University of London member institutions; Baron Currie of Marylebone, an economist who has enjoyed a career spanning academia, business, government and the voluntary sector, and Sir Deian Rhys Hopkin, a Welsh historian who spent 45 years in higher education retiring as a Vice-Chancellor in London.

Sir David and company joined a growing list of over 550 individuals who have been honoured by the University of London.

Over 400 guests attended this year’s ceremony, including staff and students from the 18 independent member institutions of the University.

Read an interview with Sir David Cannadine in the latest issue of the British Academy Review.