List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom by education
This list of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom lists each Prime Minister by educational institutions attended.
As of October 2016, of the 54 Prime Ministers to date, 19 were educated at Eton College, seven at Harrow School, and six at Westminster School. Nine Prime Ministers to date have been educated at non-fee-paying schools; these include all five Prime Ministers to hold office between 1964 and 1997 (Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher, Major).
27 Prime Ministers were educated at the University of Oxford (including 13 at Christ Church, Oxford), and 14 at the University of Cambridge (including 6 at Trinity College, Cambridge). Nine Prime Ministers were educated at Eton and Christ Church, including all three Prime Ministers to hold office between 1880 and 1902 (Gladstone, Salisbury, Rosebery).
Three Prime Ministers attended the University of Edinburgh, three attended the University of Glasgow, and two attended Mason Science College, a predecessor institution of the University of Birmingham. John Major was (as of 2018) the last Prime Minister not to have attended university.
Eleven Prime Ministers trained as barristers at the Inns of Court, including eight at Lincoln's Inn (including Disraeli, who attended but did not complete studies). Two Prime Ministers (Wellington and Churchill) completed officer training at military academies.
- The Earl of Bute (Leiden Univ.):
the only Prime Minister to attend a university outside the UK without having attended a UK university. - William Pitt the Younger (Pembroke, Cambridge): home schooled; went to Cambridge aged 14, graduated at 17, MP at 21, Prime Minister at 24.
- W. E. Gladstone (Eton, Christ Church, Lincoln's Inn): attended the three institutions with most alumni Prime Ministers.
- Margaret Thatcher (Somerville, Oxford): the first female PM, educated at an all-female school and college; studied Chemistry, the only PM with a science degree.
- Gordon Brown (Edinburgh Univ.): the only Prime Minister to complete a PhD. Served as Rector of Edinburgh University 1973–76, while still a student.
List of British prime ministers by education
See also
References
- ↑ Thompson, Andrew, History of Government: William Cavendish Duke of Devonshire: "Initially educated at home by tutors, he, like many young aristocrats of the period, completed his education by undertaking the Grand Tour to France and Italy."
- ↑ J. M. Rigg, 'Watson-Wentworth, Charles, second Marquis of Rockingham (1730–1782)', Dictionary of National Biography, 1899, has him attending St John's College, Cambridge. However, there is no mention of him in Alumni Cantabrigienses, and the DNB is not followed in this detail by the Oxford DNB.
- ↑ Pitt the Elder attended Utrecht 1728-1730.
- ↑ Bloy, Dr Marjorie, A Web of English History: "He appears not to have had much education: in his autobiography, he noted, "From the time I was four years old till I was fourteen, my education was neglected to the greatest degree". He was sent to an ordinary school and then was taught by a tutor until he went to Christ Church, Oxford in 1755."
- ↑ Pitt the Younger was tutored at home, until entering Cambridge at the early age of 14.