College Masters

The Master is the head of the College and chairs the College Council and Governing Body. There follows a complete list of Emmanuel Masters, from the founding year to the present day.

1. Laurence Chaderton (1584)

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

2. John Preston (1622)

Preston was born in 1587 at Heyford in Northamptonshire and was educated at Queens' College, becoming a fellow in 1609. He took orders, and on becomin...

3. William Sandcroft (1628)

4. Richard Holdsworth (1637)

One of the few Masters, before the late 20th century, to have been elected from outside the College. Richard Holdsworth was a Fellow of St. John’s fro...

5. Anthony Tuckney (1644)

Anthony Tuckney, who entered Emmanuel in 1613, was in many ways a typical Emmanuel man of his generation. He was a Fellow from 1619 to 1630. In 1629, ...

6. William Dillingham (1653)

Dillingham became Master following the departure of Anthony Tuckney to be Master of St. John’s, having been admitted to the College in 1636 and electe...

7. William Sancroft (1662)

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

8. John Breton (1665)

Breton was admitted to the College in 1629. He was elected Master by royal mandate in 1665, following the resignation of William Sancroft on his appoi...

9. Thomas Holbech (1675)

The 3rd son of William Holbech of Birchingley Hall, baptized 21 October 1606 at Fillingley, Warwickshire. Admitted pensioner of Emmanuel College, Camb...

10. John Balderston (1680)

John Balderston was admitted to the College in 1659 and elected a Fellow in 1665. During his Mastership the number of admissions fell to under 20 in m...

11. William Savage (1719)

Another Master who had been an undergraduate at Emmanuel, admitted in 1686 and a Fellow from 1692 to 1703. He was the incumbent of parishes in London ...

12. William Richardson (1736)

Richardson, admitted to Emmanuel in 1715-6, is described by Venn as an ‘industrious antiquary’. He kept the affairs of the College in his own hands, a...

13. Richard Farmer (1775)

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

14. Robert Towerson Cory (1797)

Those who play bowls in the Fellows' Garden at Emmanuel will know that one pair of woods bear the initials R.T.C. They belonged to Robert Towerson Cor...

15. George Archdall-Gratwicke (1835)

George John Archdall - he added the name Gratwicke only late in life, in 1863, by royal licence - was already about twenty-four years old when he ente...

16. Samuel George Phear (1871)

Born March 30th in 1829 in East Stonham rectory, Suffolk, Samuel George Phear was a clergyman of the Church of England. He graduated at Cambridge in ...

17. William Chawner (1895)

William Chawner was the 5th Classic in 1871 and became Vice-Chancellor 1899-1901. He was a Liberal and a Reformer. Whilst Senior Tutor in 1878 he ra...