Notable Birkbeckians - Birkbeck, University of London (original) (raw)

Birkbeck graduates follow in the footsteps of radical thinkers, social reformers, poets and writers - and even a prime minister.

• Important historical figures
  • Sir Roger Scruton (1944-2020), Professor of aesthetics: a writer of over 50 books, Sir Roger Scruton served Birkbeck as a lecturer and professor from 1971-1992. He was knighted in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to philosophy, teaching and public education.
  • JD Bernal (1901-1971), crystallographer: JD Bernal was the founding father of Birkbeck’s crystallography department. Bernal would become known as the ‘world’s wisest man’ during the Second World War. His intellectual force resonated beyond the world of science through his works for peace as President of the World Peace Council (1958-1965).
  • Annie Besant (1847-1933), social reformer: Annie Besant studied at Birkbeck in the late 1800s. At the time she was a controversial student; her anti-religious views brought her into conflict with the College Governors. She was a strong advocate of women's causes, secularism, birth control, Fabian socialism and workers' rights. In 1893 she moved to India where she joined the Indian National Congress, and in 1916 she launched the Home Rule League, actively promoting self-rule for India.
  • George Birkbeck (1776-1841), founder of Birkbeck College: Dr George Birkbeck was a doctor, academic and philanthropist. He started a revolution in London's education system in 1823 by establishing the London Mechanics' Institution, which later became Birkbeck College.
  • TS Eliot (1888-1965), poet, playwright and literary critic: The Nobel Prize-winning poet, playwright and literary critic taught English at Birkbeck for a short time in 1915.
  • Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer: Rosalind Franklin was a biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer who made important contributions to the understanding of the fine molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite. She worked as a Research Fellow at Birkbeck during the 1950s, working alongside Aaron Klug, making discoveries into the structure of RNA. It is widely thought that she was deprived of the Nobel Prize by her early death.
  • Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), Black political leader and advocate of Pan-Africanism: Marcus Garvey was a hugely influential political leader, author and orator. He advocated a Pan-African philosophy that aimed to strengthen bonds of fellowship between all peoples of African descent. Garvey left his homeland of Jamaica to live in London between 1912 and 1914, where he attended law and philosophy classes at Birkbeck.
  • Helen Gwynne-Vaughan (1879-1967), Professor of botany and Birkbeck’s first female professor: a prominent botanist and mycologist, Helen Gwynne-Vaughan was Birkbeck’s first female professor and became head of Birkbeck’s Botany department in 1909. During the First World War, she was appointed Head of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. In 1919 she was made a Dame of the British Empire.
  • Eric Hobsbawm (1917-2012), historian and President of Birkbeck: the world-famous Marxist historian joined the College as a lecturer in 1947 and faithfully served Birkbeck until his death in 2012. He was made Emeritus Professor of Economic and Social History at the University of London in 1982 and he served tirelessly as President of Birkbeck from 2002 until his death in 2012. His best-known works are the hugely popular and influential trilogy about the nineteenth century: The Age of Revolution: Europe 1789-1848 (1962), The Age of Capital: 1848-1875 (1975) and The Age of Empire: 1875-1914 (1987). He followed the trilogy with The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914-1991 (1994).
  • Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937), British Prime Minister: Ramsay MacDonald studied science, botany, agriculture, mathematics, and physics at Birkbeck in the latter part of the nineteenth century. He went on to become British Prime Minister in the 1920s and 1930s and the first Labour Prime Minister.
  • Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-1983), architectural historian and critic: a German émigré, Nikolaus Pevsner travelled the length and breadth of England creating a unique record of the country’s most significant buildings and monuments. He published his classic, Outline of European Architecture in 1942. Pevsner became Birkbeck’s first Professor of History of Art in 1959.
  • Isaac Rosenberg (1890-1918), artist and poet: Isaac Rosenberg studied in the Art School at Birkbeck between 1907 and 1908, winning a number of awards and prizes for his work. He went on to study at the Slade School where he developed his skills as a Poet. He was one of the group of poets who openly criticised the mass slaughter and incompetent military leadership of the First World War. He was killed while fighting in the battle of the Somme in the spring of 1918.
  • Sidney James Webb, 1st Baron Passfield (1859-1947) student of Law at Birkbeck: socialist, economist, reformer, and husband of Beatrice Webb. He was one of the early members of the Fabian Society, helping turn it into the pre-eminent political-intellectual society of the day, and also founded the London School of Economics.
• graduates in business
  • Eric Salama (MSc Economics, 1986): Chairman and Chief Executive, the Kantar Group
  • Andrew Molson (MSc Corporate Governance and Ethics, 2002): Chair, Avenir Global .Canadian businessman and philanthropist; board member of global beverage company Molson Coors
  • Dame Anita Frew (Mres Humanities and Cultural Studies, 2000): Chair, Croda International Plc. Held several board level roles at international companies, including as the first female Chair of Rolls Royce
  • Charles Gurassa (BA French and Italian, 2023): Chair, Guardian Media Group. Currently holds a number of Board level roles in the private and not for profit sectors
  • Naheed Memon (MSc Econometrics, 2004): CEO, Oracle Power. Has held several notable roles in the public and private sector in Pakistan
  • Marc Carena (MA Classical Archaeology, 2005): Global President of Petcare, Mars Inc. Senior executive in consumer goods industry
  • Morten Hummelmose (MSc Finance, 1994): Founder, Frececo Aps. Danish investor and philanthropist
  • Eva Pascoe (BSc Psychology, 1991): Director, The Retail Practice. Known for co-founding the world's first internet café
  • Melanie Eusebe MBE (MA Philosophy, 2008): AI in Society Pillar Lead, Google Deepmind. Founder of the Black British Business Awards
  • Ranjit Mathrani (MSc Economics, 1977): Founder, MW Eat. Founder of notable London restaurants Chutney Mary and Masala Zone
  • Chris Corbin (Cert HE History of Art, 2010): Founder, Corbin and King. Founder of notable London restaurants including The Woseley and The Ivy
  • Folabi Esan (MSc Innovation Management and Technology Policy, 2004): Partner, Adlevo Capital. Pioneer of Nigerian private equity industry
  • Claude Grunitzsky (BSc Financial Economics, 1994): CEO, The Equity Alliance. Founder of the global media platform Trace Media.
• Graduates in Politics and government
  • Luciana Berger MP (Government, Policy and Politics, 2005): Member of the House of Lords. Former MP for Liverpool Wavertree between 2010 and 2019
  • Ed Davey MP (MSc Economics, 1993): Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Also the MP for Kingston and Surbiton
  • Nick Smith MP (MSc Economic and Social Change, 1991): MP for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
  • Dame Melanie Dawes (MSc Economics, 1989): Chief Executive, OfCom
  • Kemi Badenoch (LLB Law, 2009): HM Leader of the Opposition. Also MP for Saffron Walden
  • Lisa Nandy (MSc Politics and Government, 2005): Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. Also Labour MP for Wigan
  • Alison McGovern (PG Certificate Economics, 2005): Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness. Also Labour MP for Birkenhead
  • David Simmonds (PG Certificate Professional Development, 2009): Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
  • Markus Campbell Savours (BSc Financial Economics, 2018): Labour MP for Penrith and Solway
  • Hamish Falconer (MSc Government, Policy and Politics, 2010): Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). Also Labour MP for Lincoln
  • Laurence Turner (PG Certificate Social Research, 2020): Labour MP for Birmingham Northwood
  • Louise Haigh (LLM Law and Political Justice, 2011): Labour MP for Sheffield Healey
  • Margaret Mullane (BA Humanities, 1998): Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham
  • Sam Freedman (Mres Public Policy and Management, 2007): Senior Follow, Institute for Government .Runs ‘Comment is Freed’, Britain’s most popular politics Substack
  • Jane Ittogi (LLM Law): Partner, Shook Lin & Bok .Current 'First Lady' of Singapore via marriage to Tharman Shanmugaratnam
• Graduates in Arts and the media
  • Simon Bird (MA Cultural and Critical Studies, 2007): actor, writer and stand-up comedian best known for playing Will McKenzie in E4's BAFTA-winning comedy The Inbetweeners
  • Edward ‘Bear’ Grylls (BA Spanish and Latin American Studies, 2001): British adventurer, writer and television presenter who was one of the youngest people to scale Mount Everest at the age of 23
  • Abi Dare (MA Creative Writing, 2018): New York Times bestselling novelist
  • Nadine White (BA English, 2016): Journalist; the first dedicated race correspondent in UK journalism
  • Romesh Ranganathan (PG Diploma Economics, 2001): Comedian, writer and broadcaster
  • Jacqui Oatley MBE (Introduction to Journalism): Sports broadcaster; known as the first female commentator on the BBC’s Match of the Day football show
  • Adeshola Mos-Shogbamimu (PhD Law, 2011): Broadcaster and activist as 'Dr Shola'
  • Laura Marling (MA Psychoanalytical Studies): Award-winning singer and songwriter
  • Sandie Shaw (MSc Psychodynamic Counselling, 2023): Singer known for being first British winner of Eurovision Song Contest
  • Alvaro Pombo (BA Philosophy): Poet and novelist; awarded the Cervantes prize in 2024
  • Tricia Tuttle (MA Cinema & Television Studies, 1998): Director, Berlinale Film Festival
  • Tracy Thorn (MA Modern & Contemporary Literature): Singer; co-founder of British band Everything But The Girl
  • Florian Armstrong (BA Law, 1993): Successful singer and songwriter as 'Dido'
  • Gilane Tawadros (LLM Human Rights, 2009): Chief Executive, Whitechapel Gallery
  • Lyndsey Turner (MFA Theatre Directing, 2007): theatre director known for directing plays in the West End, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Broadway
  • Winsome Pinnock (Modern Literatures in English, 1983): award-winning playwright and dramaturg
• graduates in Academia
  • Nicola Spence (MSc Microbiology, 1986): UK Chief Plant Health Officer
  • Jill Westerman CBE (MA English Literature and Language, 1982): Deputy Chair of Governors, City Lit
  • Professor Paul Ekins OBE (PhD Economics, 1996): Professor of Resources and Environment Policy at University College London
  • Rachel Glennerster CMG (PhD Economics, 2004): President of the Center for Global Development; Associate Professor of Economics at University of Chicago
  • Hetan Shah (PG Cert Economics with Mathematical Economics, 2003): Chief Executive, British Academy
  • Christina Pagel (MSc Applied Statistics, 2015): Professor of Operational Research at UCL; science communicator
  • Gillian Bates (MSc Biomolecular Organisation, 1984): Professor of Molecular Neuroscience; co discoverer of Huntington's Disease
  • Helen Sharman OBE (PhD Chemistry, 1987): first British person in space and the first woman to visit the Mir space station
• graduates in Sport
  • Tom Mercey (BA Management, 2009): English former professional rugby union player and e-sports entrepreneur
  • Jack Beaumont (BSc Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2017): Won silver medal for GB rowing at Tokyo 2020 (2021)
  • Preeti Shetty (MSc Sport Management, 2012): Non Executive Director of Brentford FC
  • Sophie Bray MBE (PG Diploma Occupational Psychology, 2021): Olympic Gold Medalist for GB Hockey in 2016
  • Rob Williams (PhD Crystallography, 2012): Won silver medal for GB rowing at London 2012
  • Marisa Ewers (MSc Sports Management and the Business of Football, 2018): Former professional footballer; Director of Women's Football for Aston Villa FC
  • Brooke Chaplen (MSc Sports Management and the Business of Football, 2022): Former professional footballer; Director of Women's Football for Portsmouth FC