Contents This edition © Kulturalis Ltd, 2026
Researched and written by Flora Borthwick
First published in 2026 by Kulturalis Ltd Kulturalis Ltd 14 Old Queen Street London sw1h 9hp United Kingdom www.kulturalis.com
Edited by Toby Wilkinson Introduction
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The Medieval & Tudor Periods
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The Seventeenth Century
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The Eighteenth Century
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The Nineteenth Century
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The Twentieth Century
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The Twenty-first Century
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Image credits
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ISBN 978-1-83636-059-9 Design: Matt Wilson (mexington.co.uk) Printed and bound in Malta by Gutenberg Press Reproduction by Opero, Verona
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the author and publisher. Any errors or omissions are unintentional and should be notified to the Publisher, who will arrange for corrections to appear in any reprints.
Contents This edition © Kulturalis Ltd, 2026
Researched and written by Flora Borthwick
First published in 2026 by Kulturalis Ltd Kulturalis Ltd 14 Old Queen Street London sw1h 9hp United Kingdom www.kulturalis.com
Edited by Toby Wilkinson Introduction
6
The Medieval & Tudor Periods
10
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The Seventeenth Century
24
EU GPSR Authorised Representative: EASY ACCESS SYSTEM EUROPE OÜ, Mustamäe tee 50, 10621, TALLINN, Estonia email: info@easproject.org
The Eighteenth Century
42
The Nineteenth Century
58
The Twentieth Century
70
The Twenty-first Century
92
Image credits
96
ISBN 978-1-83636-059-9 Design: Matt Wilson (mexington.co.uk) Printed and bound in Malta by Gutenberg Press Reproduction by Opero, Verona
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the author and publisher. Any errors or omissions are unintentional and should be notified to the Publisher, who will arrange for corrections to appear in any reprints.
chaplain. He declared himself as ‘obstinate a papist as any was in England’; but an encounter with a supporter of the Protestant reformation convinced Latimer (opposite) of its merits, and he became a fierce advocate. Thereafter his fate was sealed: not even his appointment as Bishop of Worcester could save him from Mary Tudor’s counter-reformation. Today, Latimer is remembered at Clare with a stained-glass window, a fine portrait, and an eponymous room in Old Court. The Fellows’ Library also has one of his tracts, snatched from the flames as he burned for his beliefs. Nearly 500 years after his death, Latimer’s candle still burns bright.
Nicholas Heath c. 1501–1578
Nicholas Heath navigated the religious turmoil of the Tudor period to become the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of York. The early details of Heath’s life are obscure. He comes into focus only after his matriculation at Christ’s College Cambridge in 1513. After graduation, he moved to a Fellowship at Clare; it was likely here that he took holy orders. Certainly, while at Cambridge, Heath attracted the attention of Archbishop Cranmer and his evangelical associates. Like them and Clare contemporary Hugh Latimer (q.v.), Heath supported the idea of church reform. Unlike Cranmer and Latimer, however, Heath turned away from Protestantism late in the reign of Henry VIII. He was imprisoned under Edward VI but survived the reign and religious purges of the Catholic Queen Mary. Heath not only survived but thrived: Mary named him Archbishop of York in 1555. As the last Roman Catholic holder of that office, Heath consecrated Reginald Pole, the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury. Recognising the potential for another shift in the religious landscape after Mary’s death, Heath supported Elizabeth I but encouraged the new queen to continue Mary’s religious policies. While Elizabeth respected Heath’s conviction, she could not allow him to oppose her. She deprived him of his archbishopric in 1559, but allowed him to live privately until his death in 1578.
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chaplain. He declared himself as ‘obstinate a papist as any was in England’; but an encounter with a supporter of the Protestant reformation convinced Latimer (opposite) of its merits, and he became a fierce advocate. Thereafter his fate was sealed: not even his appointment as Bishop of Worcester could save him from Mary Tudor’s counter-reformation. Today, Latimer is remembered at Clare with a stained-glass window, a fine portrait, and an eponymous room in Old Court. The Fellows’ Library also has one of his tracts, snatched from the flames as he burned for his beliefs. Nearly 500 years after his death, Latimer’s candle still burns bright.
Nicholas Heath c. 1501–1578
Nicholas Heath navigated the religious turmoil of the Tudor period to become the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of York. The early details of Heath’s life are obscure. He comes into focus only after his matriculation at Christ’s College Cambridge in 1513. After graduation, he moved to a Fellowship at Clare; it was likely here that he took holy orders. Certainly, while at Cambridge, Heath attracted the attention of Archbishop Cranmer and his evangelical associates. Like them and Clare contemporary Hugh Latimer (q.v.), Heath supported the idea of church reform. Unlike Cranmer and Latimer, however, Heath turned away from Protestantism late in the reign of Henry VIII. He was imprisoned under Edward VI but survived the reign and religious purges of the Catholic Queen Mary. Heath not only survived but thrived: Mary named him Archbishop of York in 1555. As the last Roman Catholic holder of that office, Heath consecrated Reginald Pole, the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury. Recognising the potential for another shift in the religious landscape after Mary’s death, Heath supported Elizabeth I but encouraged the new queen to continue Mary’s religious policies. While Elizabeth respected Heath’s conviction, she could not allow him to oppose her. She deprived him of his archbishopric in 1559, but allowed him to live privately until his death in 1578.
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Nicholas Ferrar 1592–1637
Nicholas Ferrar (opposite) was a complex man of many parts: an early investor in the Virginia Company, he rose to high office; then, on the threshold of a great public career, left Court and Parliament to found the Christian community of Little Gidding. His achievements, celebrated in his lifetime, raise more difficult questions today. Ferrar was a bright but sickly child, raised in a strict and pious family. He entered Clare aged just 13, and became a Fellow in 1610. Due to ill health, he left the damp and cold of Cambridge, and in 1619 joined his father and brothers at the Virginia Company. He evidently had a nose for business and rose through the ranks, becoming Company deputy in 1622. While the Company did not transport enslaved people, it did oversee the sale of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia in 1619. Ferrar himself was directly involved in the enforced conversion of Indigenous Americans to Anglicanism, as well as the often-violent imposition of colonial authority. After the Virginia Company lost its Charter (and Ferrar much of his fortune), he turned increasingly to religion. He purchased a manor in the Huntingdonshire village of Little Gidding and, after being ordained a deacon in 1626, worked to establish there a community of worship. He taught local children, encouraged regular sermons, and gave money for the relief of the poor. His family’s residence in the village revived the locality, and Ferrar remained at Little Gidding until his death.
Humphrey Henchman 1592–1675
Although Humphrey Henchman rose to become Bishop of London, it was through his early clerical appointment as Prebendary of Salisbury that he unexpectedly influenced the course of the British monarchy. Originally a student at Christ’s, Henchman’s erudition was noted by those at Clare, and he was appointed a Fellow in 1617. After three years,
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Nicholas Ferrar 1592–1637
Nicholas Ferrar (opposite) was a complex man of many parts: an early investor in the Virginia Company, he rose to high office; then, on the threshold of a great public career, left Court and Parliament to found the Christian community of Little Gidding. His achievements, celebrated in his lifetime, raise more difficult questions today. Ferrar was a bright but sickly child, raised in a strict and pious family. He entered Clare aged just 13, and became a Fellow in 1610. Due to ill health, he left the damp and cold of Cambridge, and in 1619 joined his father and brothers at the Virginia Company. He evidently had a nose for business and rose through the ranks, becoming Company deputy in 1622. While the Company did not transport enslaved people, it did oversee the sale of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia in 1619. Ferrar himself was directly involved in the enforced conversion of Indigenous Americans to Anglicanism, as well as the often-violent imposition of colonial authority. After the Virginia Company lost its Charter (and Ferrar much of his fortune), he turned increasingly to religion. He purchased a manor in the Huntingdonshire village of Little Gidding and, after being ordained a deacon in 1626, worked to establish there a community of worship. He taught local children, encouraged regular sermons, and gave money for the relief of the poor. His family’s residence in the village revived the locality, and Ferrar remained at Little Gidding until his death.
Humphrey Henchman 1592–1675
Although Humphrey Henchman rose to become Bishop of London, it was through his early clerical appointment as Prebendary of Salisbury that he unexpectedly influenced the course of the British monarchy. Originally a student at Christ’s, Henchman’s erudition was noted by those at Clare, and he was appointed a Fellow in 1617. After three years,
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Martin Folkes 1690–1754
A man of uncommon erudition, Martin Folkes rose to be President of not one but two learned societies. Before Folkes joined Clare in 1706, his tutor had already recognised him as a ‘youth of penetrating genius’; at College, Folkes’s outstanding abilities were given free rein. In 1714, while still a student, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society. Many surmised that Sir Isaac Newton intended the bright young Folkes to succeed him as President. However, following Newton’s death in 1727, the Fellows elected Sir Hans Sloane. Upset by this setback, Folkes travelled to Italy. His Grand Tour provided exactly the intellectual stimulation he needed. After visiting the historic sites of Italy, Folkes published an accomplished essay on ancient Roman coins. This was well-received by the Society of Antiquaries, of which he had been a Fellow since 1720. After returning from his travels, Folkes resumed his active membership of the Royal Society, swallowing his pride and serving as Sloane’s VicePresident. His dedication was rewarded in 1741: when Sloane stepped down, Folkes was, at long last, unanimously elected President. The Society of Antiquaries followed suit nine years later. Folkes remained the country’s leading natural philosopher and antiquarian until his death in 1754.
Thomas Pelham-Holles 1693–1768
Thomas Pelham-Holles (opposite), Duke of Newcastle, was the only member of Clare thus far to have served as British Prime Minister. Pelham-Holles (né Pelham) grew up in Sussex, elder son of the first Baron Pelham and nephew of the first Duke of Newcastle. In 1709, PelhamHolles matriculated at Clare but did not take a degree, for his uncle died in 1711 and his father the following year. When he came of age in 1714, the second Lord Pelham was one of the greatest landowners in the country. He
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Martin Folkes 1690–1754
A man of uncommon erudition, Martin Folkes rose to be President of not one but two learned societies. Before Folkes joined Clare in 1706, his tutor had already recognised him as a ‘youth of penetrating genius’; at College, Folkes’s outstanding abilities were given free rein. In 1714, while still a student, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society. Many surmised that Sir Isaac Newton intended the bright young Folkes to succeed him as President. However, following Newton’s death in 1727, the Fellows elected Sir Hans Sloane. Upset by this setback, Folkes travelled to Italy. His Grand Tour provided exactly the intellectual stimulation he needed. After visiting the historic sites of Italy, Folkes published an accomplished essay on ancient Roman coins. This was well-received by the Society of Antiquaries, of which he had been a Fellow since 1720. After returning from his travels, Folkes resumed his active membership of the Royal Society, swallowing his pride and serving as Sloane’s VicePresident. His dedication was rewarded in 1741: when Sloane stepped down, Folkes was, at long last, unanimously elected President. The Society of Antiquaries followed suit nine years later. Folkes remained the country’s leading natural philosopher and antiquarian until his death in 1754.
Thomas Pelham-Holles 1693–1768
Thomas Pelham-Holles (opposite), Duke of Newcastle, was the only member of Clare thus far to have served as British Prime Minister. Pelham-Holles (né Pelham) grew up in Sussex, elder son of the first Baron Pelham and nephew of the first Duke of Newcastle. In 1709, PelhamHolles matriculated at Clare but did not take a degree, for his uncle died in 1711 and his father the following year. When he came of age in 1714, the second Lord Pelham was one of the greatest landowners in the country. He
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The Nineteenth Century
Edward Atkinson 1819–1915
Edward Atkinson’s Mastership of Clare lasted 59 years, making him the College’s longest-serving Master. His lifelong association with Clare began in 1838, when he matriculated as a sizar, a ‘poor scholar’ in receipt of financial support. He earned his BA in Classics in 1842, and became a Fellow that same year. In 1856, Atkinson was elected Master of Clare; many felt that a young incumbent would greatly benefit the College, as Clare was struggling financially. Atkinson did not disappoint, pouring his youthful energies into securing the College’s future. During his Mastership the Chapel and Hall were restored, and Atkinson increased the financial aid available for students who, like himself, needed support to study at Clare. College life was also transformed under his Mastership: the choir was founded in 1866, the boathouse was built, and cricket pitches were set up where Memorial Court now stands. With this liveliness came the growth of the undergraduate body, which expanded to 70 students. While Master, Atkinson also found time to contribute to the wider University, serving as Vice-Chancellor (then a rotating position between Heads of House) three times. When Atkinson died in 1915, he donated his collection of rare liturgical writings to the University Library. In 2016, the College restored Atkinson’s grave in the Mill Road Cemetery, in recognition of his tireless service as Master.
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The Nineteenth Century
Edward Atkinson 1819–1915
Edward Atkinson’s Mastership of Clare lasted 59 years, making him the College’s longest-serving Master. His lifelong association with Clare began in 1838, when he matriculated as a sizar, a ‘poor scholar’ in receipt of financial support. He earned his BA in Classics in 1842, and became a Fellow that same year. In 1856, Atkinson was elected Master of Clare; many felt that a young incumbent would greatly benefit the College, as Clare was struggling financially. Atkinson did not disappoint, pouring his youthful energies into securing the College’s future. During his Mastership the Chapel and Hall were restored, and Atkinson increased the financial aid available for students who, like himself, needed support to study at Clare. College life was also transformed under his Mastership: the choir was founded in 1866, the boathouse was built, and cricket pitches were set up where Memorial Court now stands. With this liveliness came the growth of the undergraduate body, which expanded to 70 students. While Master, Atkinson also found time to contribute to the wider University, serving as Vice-Chancellor (then a rotating position between Heads of House) three times. When Atkinson died in 1915, he donated his collection of rare liturgical writings to the University Library. In 2016, the College restored Atkinson’s grave in the Mill Road Cemetery, in recognition of his tireless service as Master.
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Andrew Mellon 1855–1937
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Andrew W. Mellon had a nose for business from an early age. He joined the banking firm established by his father, Thomas Mellon & Sons, where his shrewd decisions led to rapid promotion and great financial success. In 1921, in the aftermath of the First World War, US President Warren G. Harding recognised Mellon’s prowess and appointed him Treasury Secretary. Mellon proved a decisive leader, reducing postwar debt, and was re-appointed by Presidents Coolidge and Hoover. By the late 1920s, Mellon had become one of the wealthiest men in America, and a major supporter of education and the arts. He funded the construction of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, to which he donated over 300 of his own pictures. Appointed American Ambassador to the Court of St James’s in 1932, Mellon was elected to an Honorary Fellowship at Clare, where his son Paul had studied from 1929 to 1931. It was a prescient decision on the part of the College: after Andrew Mellon’s death in 1937, Paul continued his father’s philanthropic endeavours, founding the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 1969. Amongst many other projects, the Foundation gave funds for the Mellon Fellowships between Clare and Yale, which continue to this day, and made the lead donation towards the construction of a new College Library (named the Forbes Mellon Library). Paul is commemorated in an inscription in G archway (below), but his father deserves equal recognition.
Opposite: Andrew Mellon with his son, Paul, at Clare for Paul’s graduation, 1931.
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Andrew Mellon 1855–1937
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Andrew W. Mellon had a nose for business from an early age. He joined the banking firm established by his father, Thomas Mellon & Sons, where his shrewd decisions led to rapid promotion and great financial success. In 1921, in the aftermath of the First World War, US President Warren G. Harding recognised Mellon’s prowess and appointed him Treasury Secretary. Mellon proved a decisive leader, reducing postwar debt, and was re-appointed by Presidents Coolidge and Hoover. By the late 1920s, Mellon had become one of the wealthiest men in America, and a major supporter of education and the arts. He funded the construction of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, to which he donated over 300 of his own pictures. Appointed American Ambassador to the Court of St James’s in 1932, Mellon was elected to an Honorary Fellowship at Clare, where his son Paul had studied from 1929 to 1931. It was a prescient decision on the part of the College: after Andrew Mellon’s death in 1937, Paul continued his father’s philanthropic endeavours, founding the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 1969. Amongst many other projects, the Foundation gave funds for the Mellon Fellowships between Clare and Yale, which continue to this day, and made the lead donation towards the construction of a new College Library (named the Forbes Mellon Library). Paul is commemorated in an inscription in G archway (below), but his father deserves equal recognition.
Opposite: Andrew Mellon with his son, Paul, at Clare for Paul’s graduation, 1931.
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The Twentieth Century
Siegfried Sassoon 1886–1967
A brutally honest poet, Siegfried Sassoon is best remembered for capturing the horrors of the First World War. Sassoon came up to Clare in 1905 to read law. However, encouraged by his college tutor W.L. Mollison, he left in 1907, before taking a degree, to pursue his true passion, poetry. A small private income enabled him to live without seeking paid employment. Even before war was declared, Sassoon enlisted in the army. He saw active service on the Western Front, and in 1916 was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry during a raid on an enemy position. But Sassoon quickly became horrified by what he witnessed in the trenches. He published a statement committing himself to pacifism, but was dismissed as suffering from shellshock. His wartime collections of poems, The Old Huntsman and Counter-Attack, were influenced by his friendship with fellow poet Robert Graves, and offered graphic portrayals of modern warfare. Public reactions were inflamed, as many believed Sassoon’s poems undermined British patriotism. In peacetime he published both poems and novels, and won particular praise for Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer. In 1957, Sassoon was awarded The Queen’s Medal for Poetry: a belated recognition of his unflinching portrayal of the real experiences of soldiers.
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Opposite: Portrait of Siegfried Sassoon by William Rothenstein, 1921.
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The Twentieth Century
Siegfried Sassoon 1886–1967
A brutally honest poet, Siegfried Sassoon is best remembered for capturing the horrors of the First World War. Sassoon came up to Clare in 1905 to read law. However, encouraged by his college tutor W.L. Mollison, he left in 1907, before taking a degree, to pursue his true passion, poetry. A small private income enabled him to live without seeking paid employment. Even before war was declared, Sassoon enlisted in the army. He saw active service on the Western Front, and in 1916 was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry during a raid on an enemy position. But Sassoon quickly became horrified by what he witnessed in the trenches. He published a statement committing himself to pacifism, but was dismissed as suffering from shellshock. His wartime collections of poems, The Old Huntsman and Counter-Attack, were influenced by his friendship with fellow poet Robert Graves, and offered graphic portrayals of modern warfare. Public reactions were inflamed, as many believed Sassoon’s poems undermined British patriotism. In peacetime he published both poems and novels, and won particular praise for Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer. In 1957, Sassoon was awarded The Queen’s Medal for Poetry: a belated recognition of his unflinching portrayal of the real experiences of soldiers.
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Opposite: Portrait of Siegfried Sassoon by William Rothenstein, 1921.
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Mansfield Forbes
Noel Odell
‘There was hardly a subject in which he was not passionately interested’: Mansfield Forbes’s unceasing intellectual curiosity captivated those around him, and created a lasting legacy at Clare. Having joined the College in 1908 to study history, Forbes worked his way to a Fellowship four years later. Moving effortlessly between disciplines, he became a lecturer in the Faculty of English. In his unforgettable classes, he analysed the cultural qualities of English literature, while also helping to modernise the English Tripos. Known to his students as ‘Manny’, Forbes was also a major figure within Clare, where he led the Dilettante Society. At meetings of the society held in his home, Forbes encouraged debates on students’ diverse interests. He also hosted legendary parties at which guests enjoyed lively, intriguing, and often unexpected discussions. A supremely talented conversationalist, Forbes preferred listening to others rather than recording his own thoughts. Indeed, his only published work was a two-volume history, Clare College 1326–1926, written for the College’s 600th anniversary. This characteristically wide-ranging work charted not only the physical development of the College, but also the growth of its scholarly community and the achievements of its alumni, capturing the intellectual spirit that Forbes himself embodied. An equally lasting legacy was Forbes’s own extensive book collection: bequeathed to
Noel Odell was a key member of the 1924 British Everest Expedition. Having excelled as a pupil at Brighton College, Odell read Geology at the Royal School of Mines. He was already an experienced mountaineer (he had joined the Alpine Club in 1916) when he was selected by George Mallory to join the 1924 Everest Expedition. Odell spent two weeks living above 23,000 feet and twice climbed to 26,800 feet, all without supplemental oxygen. For the final attempt at the summit, Odell watched Mallory and Irvine as they climbed; he was the last person to see them alive. After their disappearance, Odell spent 11 days trying to find them, before being forced to abandon his search. He thought that the pair might have summitted, but this could never be confirmed. Despite the tragedy, Odell continued climbing. His greatest success was summiting Nanda Devi in 1936 (at the time, the highest mountain yet climbed). In 1939, he came up to Clare to study for his PhD and also served as the College’s Director of Studies in Geology. He was later elected to an Honorary Fellowship. Odell was the longest surviving member of the Everest Expedition. Twenty years after his retirement, at the age of 93, he made one final, remarkable expedition to The Britannia Hut in the Swiss Alps.
1889–1936
1890–1987
The 1924 expedition to Mount Everest. Noel Odell is standing, second from right. Irvine is in the back row far left, and Mallory is beside him.
the College at his death, it still forms the core of the Forbes Mellon Library, named in his honour.
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Mansfield Forbes
Noel Odell
‘There was hardly a subject in which he was not passionately interested’: Mansfield Forbes’s unceasing intellectual curiosity captivated those around him, and created a lasting legacy at Clare. Having joined the College in 1908 to study history, Forbes worked his way to a Fellowship four years later. Moving effortlessly between disciplines, he became a lecturer in the Faculty of English. In his unforgettable classes, he analysed the cultural qualities of English literature, while also helping to modernise the English Tripos. Known to his students as ‘Manny’, Forbes was also a major figure within Clare, where he led the Dilettante Society. At meetings of the society held in his home, Forbes encouraged debates on students’ diverse interests. He also hosted legendary parties at which guests enjoyed lively, intriguing, and often unexpected discussions. A supremely talented conversationalist, Forbes preferred listening to others rather than recording his own thoughts. Indeed, his only published work was a two-volume history, Clare College 1326–1926, written for the College’s 600th anniversary. This characteristically wide-ranging work charted not only the physical development of the College, but also the growth of its scholarly community and the achievements of its alumni, capturing the intellectual spirit that Forbes himself embodied. An equally lasting legacy was Forbes’s own extensive book collection: bequeathed to
Noel Odell was a key member of the 1924 British Everest Expedition. Having excelled as a pupil at Brighton College, Odell read Geology at the Royal School of Mines. He was already an experienced mountaineer (he had joined the Alpine Club in 1916) when he was selected by George Mallory to join the 1924 Everest Expedition. Odell spent two weeks living above 23,000 feet and twice climbed to 26,800 feet, all without supplemental oxygen. For the final attempt at the summit, Odell watched Mallory and Irvine as they climbed; he was the last person to see them alive. After their disappearance, Odell spent 11 days trying to find them, before being forced to abandon his search. He thought that the pair might have summitted, but this could never be confirmed. Despite the tragedy, Odell continued climbing. His greatest success was summiting Nanda Devi in 1936 (at the time, the highest mountain yet climbed). In 1939, he came up to Clare to study for his PhD and also served as the College’s Director of Studies in Geology. He was later elected to an Honorary Fellowship. Odell was the longest surviving member of the Everest Expedition. Twenty years after his retirement, at the age of 93, he made one final, remarkable expedition to The Britannia Hut in the Swiss Alps.
1889–1936
1890–1987
The 1924 expedition to Mount Everest. Noel Odell is standing, second from right. Irvine is in the back row far left, and Mallory is beside him.
the College at his death, it still forms the core of the Forbes Mellon Library, named in his honour.
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James Watson
Bob Hepple
A Nobel laureate, James Watson’s work laid the foundations for much of modern genetic science. Watson entered Clare College as a postgraduate student in 1951. He joined the Cavendish Laboratory, where he met Francis Crick. Together, building on the work of Rosalind Franklin, they proposed the double-helix as the structure of DNA. With Maurice Wilkins, Crick and Watson received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Watson was elected an Honorary Fellow of Clare in 1967. Four decades later, he commissioned, donated and unveiled the sculpture of the double helix that sits on Memorial Court lawn (right). After leaving Cambridge, Watson directed the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health, and his own genome became only the second to be sequenced in its entirety. For 35 years Watson served as the director and president of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, scaling up its research to focus on cancer and the brain. While some of his views generated controversy, Watson was one of the most significant scientists of the twentieth century. His awards included 20 honorary degrees, the Copley Medal of the Royal Society (UK), the Liberty Medal, the National Medal of Science, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA).
Born in Johannesburg to two anti-apartheid campaigners, Bob Hepple developed a deep sense of social justice from an early age. He carried this into his legal practice: when Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962, Hepple acted as his defence lawyer in the Incitement to Strike trial. Following Mandela’s conviction, the African National Congress (ANC) headquarters were raided, and Hepple was arrested for his activism. The charges were dropped in the subsequent Rivonia trial, but Hepple’s release was dependent
1928–2025
1934–2015
Bob Hepple by Tomas Watson, 2001.
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James Watson
Bob Hepple
A Nobel laureate, James Watson’s work laid the foundations for much of modern genetic science. Watson entered Clare College as a postgraduate student in 1951. He joined the Cavendish Laboratory, where he met Francis Crick. Together, building on the work of Rosalind Franklin, they proposed the double-helix as the structure of DNA. With Maurice Wilkins, Crick and Watson received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Watson was elected an Honorary Fellow of Clare in 1967. Four decades later, he commissioned, donated and unveiled the sculpture of the double helix that sits on Memorial Court lawn (right). After leaving Cambridge, Watson directed the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health, and his own genome became only the second to be sequenced in its entirety. For 35 years Watson served as the director and president of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, scaling up its research to focus on cancer and the brain. While some of his views generated controversy, Watson was one of the most significant scientists of the twentieth century. His awards included 20 honorary degrees, the Copley Medal of the Royal Society (UK), the Liberty Medal, the National Medal of Science, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA).
Born in Johannesburg to two anti-apartheid campaigners, Bob Hepple developed a deep sense of social justice from an early age. He carried this into his legal practice: when Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962, Hepple acted as his defence lawyer in the Incitement to Strike trial. Following Mandela’s conviction, the African National Congress (ANC) headquarters were raided, and Hepple was arrested for his activism. The charges were dropped in the subsequent Rivonia trial, but Hepple’s release was dependent
1928–2025
1934–2015
Bob Hepple by Tomas Watson, 2001.
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The Twenty-first Century
Tim Hunt b. 1943
Tim Hunt was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of cyclins. Born in 1943, Hunt came up to Clare in 1961 to read Natural Sciences. His research career began straight after graduation, at the Department of Biochemistry in Cambridge. He relished the academic community, valuing the opportunity to listen to Francis Crick’s thoughts on molecular biology, while also enjoying theorising about cells with his undergraduate students. Above all, there was the ‘joy of discovery’. As so often in the history of scientific advances, the discovery that would eventually lead to Hunt’s Nobel Prize was made by accident, during an experiment in 1982 with the eggs of sea urchins. He noticed that a newly made protein suddenly disappeared just before the cells divided. Hunt’s subsequent work on this group of proteins, cyclins, revealed their role in the regulation of the cell cycle. This fundamental breakthrough earned him the 2001 Nobel Prize with Leland Hartwell and Paul Nurse. Hunt worked at Cambridge until 1990, when he joined the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of Clare in 2002 and knighted in 2006. Tim Hunt by Tess Barnes, 2012.
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The Twenty-first Century
Tim Hunt b. 1943
Tim Hunt was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of cyclins. Born in 1943, Hunt came up to Clare in 1961 to read Natural Sciences. His research career began straight after graduation, at the Department of Biochemistry in Cambridge. He relished the academic community, valuing the opportunity to listen to Francis Crick’s thoughts on molecular biology, while also enjoying theorising about cells with his undergraduate students. Above all, there was the ‘joy of discovery’. As so often in the history of scientific advances, the discovery that would eventually lead to Hunt’s Nobel Prize was made by accident, during an experiment in 1982 with the eggs of sea urchins. He noticed that a newly made protein suddenly disappeared just before the cells divided. Hunt’s subsequent work on this group of proteins, cyclins, revealed their role in the regulation of the cell cycle. This fundamental breakthrough earned him the 2001 Nobel Prize with Leland Hartwell and Paul Nurse. Hunt worked at Cambridge until 1990, when he joined the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of Clare in 2002 and knighted in 2006. Tim Hunt by Tess Barnes, 2012.
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Image credits All images within the book are either © Clare College, Cambridge, or found in the Public Domain, unless specified below: Sir Cam: Front cover, p2 Chris Boland: Back cover Pawel Pajor/AdobeStock: Inside front cover, inside back cover Jim Linwood: p39 Durham University Library / The Bentley Beetham 1924 Everest Trust: p73
Linocut by J.F. Greenwood, 1925.
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