Famous University Of Edinburgh Alumni

Updated July 22, 2019 15.2k views1.1k items

List RulesPeople on this list must have gone to University of Edinburgh and be of some renown.

List of famous alumni from University of Edinburgh, with photos when available. Prominent graduates from University of Edinburgh include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. This list of distinguished University of Edinburgh alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended University of Edinburgh are at the top of the list. This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from University of Edinburgh.

This list features Arthur Conan Doyle, Pippa Middleton and more.

This list answers the questions “Which famous people went to University of Edinburgh?” and “Which celebrities are University of Edinburgh alumni?”

...more

1
Alexander Graham Bell
Businessperson, Physicist
Age: Dec. at 75 (1847-1922)
Birthplace: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Alexander Graham Bell ('Graham' pronounced ) (March 3, 1847 – August 2, 1922) was a ... more
More Alexander Graham Bell
10 Controversial Facts People Don't Know About Alexander Graham Bell#26 of 2,443 The Most Influential People of All Time
2
Charles Darwin
Biologist, Scientist
Age: Dec. at 73 (1809-1882)
Birthplace: The Mount, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
Charles Robert Darwin, (; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist,... more
More Charles Darwin
What Actually Happened Right After The Theory of Evolution Was Published?#7 of 403 Famous Role Models We'd Like to Meet In Person
3
Elijah McCoy
Inventor, Engineer
Birthplace: Colchester, Ontario, Canada
Elijah J. McCoy (May 2, 1844 – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-born African-American... more
4
Bruce Chatwin
Novelist, Author
Age: Dec. at 49 (1940-1989)
Birthplace: Sheffield, United Kingdom
Charles Bruce Chatwin (13 May 1940 – 18 January 1989) was an English travel writer, novelist... more
5
John Witherspoon
Clergy, Cleric
Age: Died at 71 (1723-1794)
Birthplace: Gifford, United Kingdom
John Knox Witherspoon (February 5, 1723 – November 15, 1794) was a Scottish-American... more
6
Peter C. Doherty
Veterinarian, Researcher
Age: 79
Birthplace: Brisbane, Australia
Peter Charles Doherty, (born 15 October 1940) is an Australian veterinary surgeon and... more
7
Piers Sellers
Astronaut, Scientist
Age: 65
Birthplace: Crowborough, United Kingdom
Piers John Sellers OBE (11 April 1955 – 23 December 2016) was a British-American... more
8
Alan Bold
Alan Norman Bold (1943–1998) was a Scottish poet, biographer, and journalist. He was born in... more
9
James Wilson
Politician, Lawyer
Age: Dec. at 56 (1742-1798)
Birthplace: Ceres, United Kingdom
James Wilson (September 14, 1742 – August 21, 1798) was one of the Founding Fathers of the... more
10
Maria Bamford
Comedian, Screenwriter
Age: 50
Birthplace: Port Hueneme, California, United States of America
Maria Elizabeth Sheldon Bamford (born September 3, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian,... more
11
Iain Torrance
Journalist
Age: 71
Birthplace: Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Iain Richard Torrance, (born 13 January 1949) is a retired Church of Scotland minister,... more
12
Arthur Conan Doyle
Poet, Politician
Age: Dec. at 71 (1859-1930)
Birthplace: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish writer, who... more
More Arthur Conan Doyle
14 Weird Facts About Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Guy Who Created Sherlock Holmes#47 of 1,172 The Best Writers of All Time
13
Adam Ferguson
Chaplain, Philosopher
Age: Dec. at 93 (1723-1816)
Birthplace: Logierait, United Kingdom
Adam Ferguson, FRSE (Scottish Gaelic: Adhamh MacFhearghais), also known as Ferguson of Raith... more

14
Ian Turton
Researcher
Birthplace: Keynsham, United Kingdom
15
John Scott Russell
Architect, Engineer
Age: Dec. at 74 (1808-1882)
Birthplace: Parkhead, United Kingdom
John Scott Russell FRSE FRS (9 May 1808, Parkhead, Glasgow – 8 June 1882, Ventnor, Isle of... more
16
John Pringle
Physician
Age: Died at 75 (1707-1782)
Birthplace: Scotland
John Pringle may refer to: John Pringle, Lord Haining (c. 1674–1754), Scottish landowner,... more
17
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
Scientist
Age: Dec. at 80 (1818-1898)
Birthplace: Chunar, India
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair (1 May 1818 – 29 May 1898) was a British scientist and... more
18
Mark Lazarowicz
Politician
Age: 67
Birthplace: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, East of England, Eurasia, Dagenham, Greater London
Mark Lazarowicz (born Marek Lazarowicz; 8 August 1953) is a British Labour Co-operative... more
19
William Thornton
Architect
Age: Dec. at 69 (1759-1828)
Birthplace: Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Dr. William Thornton was a British-American physician, inventor, painter and architect who... more
20
Kelvin Holdsworth
Kelvin Holdsworth (born 21 October 1966) is a British priest of the Scottish Episcopal Church.... more
21
Alexander Balloch Grosart
Alexander Balloch Grosart (18 June 1827 – 16 March 1899) was a Scottish clergyman and... more
22
William Samson
Scientist
Age: 77
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Not to be confused with William Sampson. William Byars Samson (born 1943, in Forfar) is a... more
23
Douglas Argyll Robertson
Surgeon
Age: Dec. at 72 (1837-1909)
Birthplace: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Dr Douglas Moray Cooper Lamb Argyll Robertson FRSE, FRCSEd LLD (1837 – 3 January 1909) was a... more

24
Thomas Bowdler
Physician
Age: Dec. at 71 (1754-1825)
Birthplace: Bath, United Kingdom
Thomas Bowdler, LRCP, FRS (; 11 July 1754 – 24 February 1825) was an English doctor best known... more
25
William Knighton
Sir William Knighton, 1st Baronet GCH (1776 – 11 October 1836) was Private Secretary to the... more

Elijah McCoy

Alan Bold

Alexander Balloch Grosart