Chancellor of Durham University

The Chancellor is the formal head of Durham University. They are nominated by the Council and Senate in joint session and appointed by Convocation. The current Chancellor is the operatic baritone Sir Thomas Allen. He succeeded former chancellor Bill Bryson on 1 January 2012, having been elected by Convocation on 11 October 2011.

Until 1909, the University was governed by the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral, with the Warden (held ex officio by the Dean of Durham from 1862) being both the formal and executive head of the University. Following the implementation of statutes made in 1909 under the University of Durham Act 1908, the Warden became the Chancellor and the Sub-Warden the Vice-Chancellor, meaning Durham was, like most other British universities, headed by a Chancellor.

Source: Durham University Records.

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