The power to appoint the Master was invested in the Visitor of the College until 2012. Following an amendment to the College statutes, which was approved by the Queen in Council in February 2012, the Master is now appointed by the Governing Body of the College.
The Master usually serves until reaching the statutory fellowship retirement age of 67. Exceptionally this period may be extended until the Master in question reaches 70 as occurred in the case of Duncan Robinson.
16th Century
Robert Evans (1544 – 1546, resigned)
Richard Carr (1546 – 1559, deprived)
Roger Kelke (1559 – 1576, died)
Richard Howland (1576 – 1577, elected Master of St John’s College)
Degory Nicholls (1577 – 1582, resigned)
Thomas Neville (1582 – 1593, appointed Master of Trinity College)
Richard Clayton (1593 – 1595, elected Master of St John’s College)
17th Century
John Palmer (1595 – 1604, resigned)
Barnabe Goche (1604 – 1626, died)
Henry Smyth (1626 – 1642, died)
Edward Rainbow (1642 – 1650, ejected)
John Sadler (1650 – 1660, ejected)
Edward Rainbow (restored in 1660 – 1664, resigned)
John Howorth (1664 – 1668, died)
James Duport (1668 – 1679)
John Peachell (1679 – 1690, died)
18th Century
Gabriel Quadring (1690 – 1713, died)
Daniel Waterland (1713 – 1740, died)
Edward Abbott (1740 – 1746, died)
Thomas Chapman (1746 – 1760, died)
George Sandby (1760 – 1774, resigned)
Barton Wallop (1774 – 1781, died)
Peter Peckard (1781 – 1797, died)
19th Century
William Gretton (1797 – 1813, died)
George Neville Grenville (1813 – 1853, resigned)
Latimer Neville (1853 – 1904, died)
20th Century
Stuart Alexander Donaldson (1904 – 1915)
Arthur Christopher Benson (1915 – 1925, died)
Alan Beville Ramsay (1925 – 1947, retired)
Henry Urmston Willinck (1948 – 1966, retired)
Walter Hamilton (1967 – 1978, retired)
Sir Derman Guy Christopherson (1979 – 1985, retired)
Sir David Charles Calcutt (1986 – 1994, resigned)
21st Century
Sir John Gurdon (1995 – 2002, retired)
Duncan Robinson (2002 – 2012, retired)
Rowan Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth (2013 – 2020, retired)
Sir Christopher John Greenwood (2020 – present)
