Founded in 1209, the history of theUniversity of Cambridge dates back hundreds of years. It has a rich tradition of producing world-class scientists and philosophers. From ancient times to the present, Cambridge has been a place where some of the world's most notable minds have studied.
The University of Cambridge, situated in Cambridge, United Kingdom,is the second oldest university in the world. Till today, it is regarded as one of the most prominent universities in the world that has produced somenotable alumnisuch as Issac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, to name a few.
As of October 2020, the University ofCambridge has been associated with 121 Nobel laureates, 7 Turing Award winners, 11 Fields Medalists, 14 British prime ministers,47 heads of state and over 190 Olympic medallists. Many of the university's most notable alumni are listed down below to facilitate you with the history of Cambridge.
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Top 10 Cambridge Notable Alumni
Cambridge University has been affiliatedwith a long list of popular names who have made their marks across fields including politics, entertainment, business, art and culture, among others. Among all, here are the top 10 alumni of the University of Cambridge:
Sir Isaac Newton
Before he became famous for his headbutting an apple, Newton studied at Cambridge. He also took on advanced math and optics. As a student, he produced several studies that were acknowledged by the scientific community. However, his initial work on gravity was initially rejected by the scientific community.
Sir Isaac Newton was one of the most notable Cambridge University alumni. He was born in 1643 and studied at Trinity College. He studied various subjects, including Advanced Mathematics and Optics. He also published several papers. Many of us dont know that his work on gravitational forces was initially rejected. He is known for introducing the laws of motion and universal gravitation, which explains how gravity affects everything in the universe.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is another notable alumni from the University of Cambridge. He earned his doctorate in Cosmology at the age of 21 despite being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease at the start of his career.
After securing first-class honours in his studies at Oxford, Hawking pursued a PhD in Cosmology at Cambridge. Despite being diagnosed with sclerosis at the age of 21, he still managed to finish his doctorate. From 1979 to 2009, Hawking was a professor of mathematics at Cambridge. He became a widely known figure due to his best-selling book, "A Brief History of Time."
Hawking's work included his theories on gravitational singularity and radiation. His theories on radiation and gravitational singularity were first presented by Roger Penrose. His breakthrough theory on radiation and gravitational singularity was widely accepted during the 1970s. He was the first to introduce a theory of cosmology that was explained by the union of the general theory of gravity and quantum mechanics.
Sylvia Plath
Victoria Lucas (her pen name), a prominent American author and poet, was one of the voices of her generation. She became passionate about her craft after moving to the UK when she was young. Victoria Lucas is best known for her works of poetry and wrote some of the most influential articles of the 20th century.
Sylvia Plath was an influential and popular author during the 20th century. She died when she was 30 years old. During the first few years of her career, her work caught the attention of a wide variety of readers. In her poems, Plath explored her own mental anguish and the various conflicts she had with her parents. She was also known for her intense depiction of herself.
In her work, Plath explored her own mental anguish. Her works were often autobiographical. They talked about her troubled marriage to Ted Hughes, as well as her various conflicts with her parents. Margaret Rees noted that Plath stripped away the polite veneer of her work. According to Rees, whether she wrote about nature or social restrictions, Plath stripped away the polite veneer of her work.
Plath's works showed a variety of elemental forces and primeval fears, which she had raised in order to show the tensions that were still present in the post-war era. According to Eleanor Oates, many of Plath's best-known poems were written during the last few weeks of her life, and they were read as if they had been carved out of ice.
Alan Turing
He was a computer scientist, a mathematician, and a philosopher. He was one of the individuals who contributed to the development of the technology used for making computers. Alan Turing never referred to himself as a philosopher, though his 1950 paper on intelligence and computing is often cited by philosophers. His work, which is regarded as the foundation of modern computer science, tackles the mind-body problem by focusing on the concept of computability.
Although he may not be familiar to most people, computer scientist and philosopher Richard Dawkins were one of the most important thinkers in the early years of the Information Age. While he was studying at Princeton University, he also spent several years at King's College, where he gained a deeper understanding of computer science.
Dame Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson is an amazing actress and one of the most prominent individuals in the UK. She has won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. She studied at Newnham College, which is a prestigious university in Cambridge. And after doing so, she earned upper-class honours.
Emma Thompson's humour was cultivated by her family, and she studied at Cambridge University. She also became a part of the Footlights Group, which used to include members of Monty Python. She started her career in comedy after graduating in 1980. She landed her first major break in television on the program Alfresco in 1983. During the mid-1980s, she worked on various TV comedy review programs, as well as occasionally with her fellow Footlights alumni.
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James Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie was born in Oxford on June 11, 1959, to Patricia and William George Ranald Laurie. He was born in Oxford, England, to William George Ranald Laurie and Patricia Javaid. He was born to a gold medalist in the sport of row, and he had also rowed for Cambridge and England.
He was part of the England youth team in 1977, and he also rowed for Cambridge in 1980. He also met Emma Thompson in 1978. Hugh is married to actress and comedy writer Laurie, and they live in Los Angeles. He has also written a best-selling novel entitled The Gun Seller.
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon was instrumental in the development of scientific methodology and natural philosophy during the Renaissance period. As a lawyer, politician, and Queen's Counsel, he wrote a variety of articles and essays on various subjects. In one of his works, he discussed the possibility of having a perfect society.
In the 1500s, Francis Bacon got into Trinity College because of its reputation for attracting talented students. When he got there, he became one of the most influential figures in the UK. With a variety of areas of study, such as philosophy, politics, literature, and journalism, he was able to take advantage of the school's reputation. After graduating, he became a respected statesman, scientist, and author.
William Harvey
William Harvey was a physician who was the first to describe the circulatory system. Everyone who works in the health industry or studies anatomy can already recognize this name. This discovery helped raise the level of scientific understanding of the human body. Before his work, Harvey spent his time studying at the Cambridge and Gonville colleges.
Harvey explained that the circulatory system consists of a series of arteries and veins that run from the heart to the body. The blood flows through the circulatory system. His family was very wealthy. Harvey's father was a successful businessman known as Thomas Harvey. His mother, Joane, gave birth to nine children.
He started his education at a small school in Folkestone before moving on to the King's Grammar School in Canterbury. While at the school, he studied Latin and developed an interest in history. It was a vital part of European education at that time.
Marjorie Stephenson
Marjorie Stephenson was a distinguished bacterial chemist who is regarded as one of the most significant figures in the microbiological community. Following her death in 1948, a memorial lectureship was established to honour her achievements and legacy.
The award, which is named after Stephenson, is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of microbiological research. The award was established in 1953 to honour Marjorie Stephenson, who was one of the first women in the microbiological community.
She started her career as a biochemist at the University College, London. There, she studied the lactase of the intestinal mucosa and discovered the mechanism that causes glucose to inhibit it. During the First World War, she served as a Red Cross volunteer in France and Salonika. After the war, she went back to Cambridge and worked on fat-soluble vitamins.
Jane Goodall
With little more than a notebook and a pair of binoculars, Jane Goodall was able to observe the world through the eyes of her animals. Through her work, Goodall was able to give the world a glimpse into the intimate lives of animals. Through her work, Goodall has helped preserve chimpanzees for future generations. She has also broadened the scope of conservation by focusing on the environment's needs.
Today, she travels the world to warn about the threats posed by climate change and the extinction of chimpanzees. When she first entered the Gombe forest, the world didn't know much about chimpanzees. They also didn't understand their genetic connection to humans. Through her field research, Goodall was able to get close to the animals and their fascinating lives. She was also able to come to understand them as individuals.
In 1960, Goodall was able to identify tools that chimpanzees use. Her discovery is regarded as one of the most significant achievements in twentieth-century scholarship. Through her work, Goodall transformed our understanding of animals and human interaction.
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