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Masters of Balliol

Until the admission of Thomas Cisson in 1512 only dates of appearance in deeds etc. can be given, and the list may be incomplete before that.

Robert de Alburwyke in 1283 Fellow of Merton 1284, 1286; dead by 1306.
Walter de Fodringeye in 1284, 1292 Fellow in 1273. Executor of Devorguilla's will. Canon of Lincoln 1298. His own will was proved 1315.
Hugh de Warkenby in 1295 Fellow or Master of University Coll. in 1307. Canon of Chichester 1313, Treasurer 1320, 1330.
Stephen of Cornwall in 1307  
Thomas de Waldeby in 1321 Living 1359.
Henry de Seton in 1324 Fellow in 1321. Vicar of Lund, Yorks 1327.
Nicholas de Luceby in 1328 Fellow in 1321.
Richard de Chikwelle in 1329  
John de Poklyngton in 1332, 1337 Fellow of University Coll. in 1340.
Hugh de Corbrigge in 1340, 1345  
William de Kyrneshale in 1349 Fellow in 1337.
Robert de Derby in 1356 Fellow of Oriel in 1360. Junior Proctor 1360. Died 1361.
John Wyclif in 1360, 1361 Translator of the Bible into English. Died 1384. ODNB.
John Hugate in 1366 Fellow in 1361.
Thomas Tyrwhit in 1370, 1395 Died 1395-1399.
Hamond Askham in 1397 Fellow in 1370.
William Lambert in 1407 Dead by 1414.
Thomas Chace in 1411, 1416 Chancellor of the University 1426. Chaplain to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 1434. The first part of the College Library was built at his expense, 1431. Died 1449. Master Thomas Chace and the Fellows at prayer are depicted in a window now in the Chapel
Richard Rotherham in 1420, 1422 Chancellor of Hereford 1422. External Rector of Balliol 1433. Died 1455.
Robert Burley in 1423, 1427 Rector of St. Nicholas, Abingdon 1430. Vicar of Cumnor 1440. Died 1452-1458.
Richard Stapilton in 1428 Fellow in 1411. Apparently resigned 1429, but mentioned as Master 1433.
William Brandon in 1440, 1441 Fellow in 1431. Junior Proctor 1431, Senior Proctor 1432.
Robert Thwaytes in 1450, 1456 Chancellor of the University 1446. Died 1458.
William Lambton in 1458, 1465 Fellow in 1446. Junior Proctor 1446.
John Segden in 1469, 1475 Fellow in 1438. Senior Proctor 1440. Died 1476-1482.
Robert Abdy in1481, 1483 Fellow in 1450. Junior Proctor 1456. The second part of the College Library was built by him. Died 1483: buried in St. Mary Magdalen (memorial brass, now lost). Will dated 7 April 1483, proved at Oxford 12 July 1483.
William Bell in 1484, 1495 Fellow in 1467. Will dated 4 May 1495: requested burial in St. Mary Magdalen.
Richard Barnyngham in 1496, 1511 Fellow in 1486. Died by 1515.
Thomas Cisson 1512-1518 Fellow in 1495. Died 1526-1543.
Richard Stubbes 1518-1525 Fellow in 1510. Died 1525-1529.
William Whyte 1525-1539 Resigned, probably under duress. Will proved 1547.
George Cotes 1539-1545 Fellow in 1522. Fellow of Magdalen Coll. 1527. Junior Proctor 1531. Bishop of Chester 1554. Died 1555.
William Wright 1545-1547, 1555-1559 Fellow in 1527. Resigned, probably under duress. 1559.
James Brookes 1547-1555 Fellow C.C.C. 1532. Bishop of Gloucester 1554. Judge at the trials of Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer. Zealous Romanist. Died in prison 1560. Buried in Gloucester Cathedral (no monument). ODNB.
Francis Babington 1559-1560 Fellow of St. John's Coll. Cambridge 1551. Fellow of All Souls in 1557. Proctor 1557. Rector of Lincoln 1560-1563. Died abroad, about 1569. ODNB.
Anthony Garnet 1560-1563 Fellow in 1551. Resigned 1563. Living 1597, then a prisoner in Marshalsea Debtors' Prison.
Robert Hooper 1563-1570 Died 1570-1571
John Pierse 1570-1571 Fellow of Magdalen 1545. Bishop of Rochester 1576, Salisbury 1577. Archbishop of York 1589. Died 1594. Memorial in York Minster. ODNB.
Adam Squier 1571-1580 Fellow 1560. Proctor 1567. Resigned 1580. Dead by 1588.
Edmund Lilly 1580-1610 Fellow of Magdalen 1563. Proctor 1573. Vice-Chancellor 1585, 1595. Buried in St. Mary's, Oxford, 1610.
Robert Abbott 1610-1616 Born Guildford. Fellow in 1581. Bishop of Salisbury 1615. Died 1617. ODNB.
John Parkhurst 1617-1637 Born Guildford. DNB says his election was part of a campaign to secure the Tisdale benefaction (his wife was a Tisdale). Fellow of Magdalen 1581. Proctor 1597. Died 1639. ODNB. Will: Berks. Died and buried at Shillingford, Berks. where he was Rector.
Thomas Laurence 1637-1648 Born in Dorset. Fellow of All Souls in 1618. Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity 1638-1648. Expelled 1648. Died at Colne, Somersham, Hunts, 1657. ODNB.
George Bradshaw 1648-1651 Fellow in 1633. Nominated Master by the Parliamentary Visitors, 1648. Resigned, 1651.
Henry Savage 1651-1672 Fellow. Nominated Master by the Parliamentary Visitors 1651. Author of the first College History 1668: Balliofergus. Portrait in Hall. Died 1672. ODNB. Will: OU Chancellor's Court. Buried in Chapel.
Thomas Goode 1672-1678 Fellow in 1629. Canon of Hereford 1660. Buried in Hereford Cathedral 1678 (no memorial). ODNB.
John Venn 1678-1687 Son of Simon Venn of Lydeard St Lawrence. Vice Chancellor 1686. Died 1687. Buried at Lydeard St Lawrence 12 Oct 1687: table top tomb in churchyard south of the tower. Not to be confused with the homonymous regicide.
Roger Mander 1687-1704 Vice-Chancellor 1700. Died 1704. PCC will. Buried in Chapel, where there was a stone.
John Baron 1705-1722 Vice-Chancellor 1715. Died in College 1722. Buried in Chapel, where there was a stone.
Joseph Hunt 1722-1726 Buried at King's Sutton, Northants 1726; his father's burial place Burghclere, Hants is mentioned in his PCC will. Hunt was born and baptised there.
Theophilus Leigh 1726-1785 His election was controversial. Vice-Chancellor 1738. Died 1785. Buried at Adlestrop.
John Davey 1785-1798 Blundell Fellow 1752. Died 1798. Vicar of Bledlow, Bucks; buried there.
John Parsons 1798-1819 Fellow 1785. Gave the lead in establishing University Honours Degree examinations, and in the opening of Fellowship examinations. Vice-Chancellor 1807. Bishop of Peterborough 1813. Buried in Chapel 1819 (memorial survives, now in the Antechapel). Portrait in Hall. ODNB.
Richard Jenkyns 1819-1854 Fellow 1803. Vice Chancellor 1824. Largely responsible for the opening of Scholarship examinations, 1827. Dean of Wells 1845. Died in the Master's Lodgings 1854. Buried in Wells Cathedral. (His original monument has been replaced by a floor slab). Portrait in Hall ODNB.
Robert Scott 1854-1870 Fellow 1835. Dean of Rochester 1870. Died 1887. Portrait in Hall. ODNB.
Benjamin Jowett 1870-1893
Fellow 1838. Regius Professor of Greek 1855. Vice Chancellor 1882. Died 1893. Buried in St. Sepulchre's Cemetery, Oxford. Bust in the College Office, portraits in Hall, Library etc. ODNB.
Edward Caird 1893-1907 Snell Exhibitioner 1860. Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Glasgow 1866. Died 1907. Buried in St Sepulchre's Cemetery, Oxford. Portrait in Hall. First lay Master. ODNB.
James Leigh Strachan Davidson 1907-1916 Fellow 1866. Died 1916. Buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford. Portrait in Hall. ODNB.
Arthur Lionel Smith 1916-1924 Fellow 1882. Died 1924. Buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford. Portrait in Hall. ODNB.
Alexander Dunlop Lindsay 1924-1949 Fellow 1906. Vice-Chancellor 1935. Founder, University of Keele. Died 1952. Portrait in Hall. Bust in Library. Lord Lindsay of Birker,1945. ODNB.
Sir David Lindsay Keir 1949-1965 Fellow of University Coll. 1921. Vice-Chancellor, Queens University, Belfast 1939. Portrait in Hall. Died 1973. ODNB.
John Edward Christopher Hill 1965-1978 Fellow 1938. Portrait in Hall. ODNB
Anthony John Patrick Kenny 1978-1989 Fellow 1964. Portrait in Hall. Knighted 1992.
Baruch Samuel Blumberg 1989-1994 George Eastman Visiting Professor 1983. Portrait in Hall. Nobel Laureate.
Colin Renshaw Lucas 1994-2001 Fellow 1973. Vice-Chancellor 1997-2004. Knighted 2002. Portrait in Hall.
Andrew Winston Mawdsley Graham 2001-2011 Fellow 1969. Acting Master 1997-2001.
James Drummond Bone 2011-2018 Snell Exhibitioner 1968. Professor, Dean and Vice-Principal, Glasgow. Principal, Royal Holloway. Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of London. Vice Chancellor, University of Liverpool.
Dame Helen Frances Ghosh 2018- Permanent Under-Secretay of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 2005-2010. Permanent Under-Secretay of State for the Home Department. 2011-2012. Director General of the National Trust. 2012-2018.

- John Jones


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Updated 17.v.19
 
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