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Great Birkbeckians
Birkbeck graduates follow in the footsteps of radical thinkers, social reformers, even prime ministers. Some of our Great Birkbeckians include:
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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 Institute, later to become Birkbeck College, a College specifically for working people. Find out more about Dr George Birkbeck. |
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Ramsay MacDonald (1866 – 1937) British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald studied science, botany, agriculture, mathematics, and physics at Birkbeck in the latter part of the 19th century. Later he went on to become British Prime Minister in the 1920s and 1930s and the first Labour Prime Minister. Watch a video of Ramsay MacDonald. |
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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 bringing 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. |
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Isaac Rosenberg (1890 – 1918) Artist and poet during the First World War Isaac Rosenberg studied in the Art School at Birkbeck between 1907-08, 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 few Poets to be critical of the First World War. He was killed while fighting in the battle of the Somme in the spring of 1918. Read the text of a lecture given by Steven Connor, Professor of Modern Literature and Theory at Birkbeck, detailing Rosenberg’s life and poetry: |
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Nikolau Pevsner (1902 – 1983) Architectural historian and critic A German émigré, Nikolau 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 and also became one of the College firefighters. |
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Helen Gwynne-Vaughan (1879 – 1967) Professor of botany and Birkbeck’s first female professor Helen Gwynne-Vaughan was a prominent botanist and mycologist. She 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 1922 she was made a Dame of the British Empire. |
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JD Bernal (1901 – 1971) Founder of Birkbeck’s Crystallography department 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). |
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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 she was deprived of the Nobel Prize by her early death. |
| TS Elliot (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. |
A selection of books on the history of Birkbeck College and George Birkbeck are available for loan in the Birkbeck library. Find out more about alumni library membership.
View a timeline of Birkbeck’s history.
