Famous Members

Emmanuel has featured in the lives of many distinguished scholars, scientists and politicians. In this section we have put together pages for some of those no longer alive.

Unless noted, the following biographies have been taken from Dr Frank Stubbings's book, 49 Lives, which was published on the College's quatercentenary in 1984.

Sir Walter Mildmay (1520-1589)

Founder of the College and Chancellor of the Exchequer under Elizabeth I.

Laurence Chaderton (1536-1640)

First Master of Emmanuel and one of those responsible for producing the 'King James' Authorised Version of the Bible.

John Harvard (1607-1638)

Bequeathed funds that led to the foundation of the University that bears his name.

John Wallis (1616-1703)

Mathematician who developed calculus and who introduced the symbol for 'infinity', ∞.

William Sancroft (1617-1693)

Successively seventh Master of Emmanuel, Dean of St Paul's and 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Sir William Temple (1628-1699)

Restoration diplomat, statesman and essayist.

Richard Farmer (1735-1797)

Thirteenth Master of Emmanuel, Shakespearean scholar and celebrated 18th century don.

Thomas Young (1773-1829)

A genuine polymath. A physician who developed the wave theory of light, devised Young's modulus and deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs using the Rosetta stone.