University of Oxford

Oxford University is established in 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world with nine centuries of continuous existence.

English students returned from the University of Paris in 1167, leading to the establishment of the University of Oxford.

In 1248, during the reign of King Henry III, the University of Oxford was granted a royal charter, solidifying its status as a prestigious educational institution.

University College, the oldest of the 38 colleges of Oxford University, was founded in 1249. Commonly known as 'Univ', it serves as both an academic and social hub for its members.

Adam de Brome founds Oriel College in the University of Oxford in honor of the Virgin Mary with a license from King Edward II.

Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, passes away. His books are donated to the University of Oxford, becoming the university's first library.

On 10 February 1355, the St Scholastica Day riot erupts in Oxford, resulting in the deaths of 63 scholars and around 30 locals over two days.

In 1396, the construction of the bell tower at New College commenced, marking the first recorded use of building stone from Headington Quarry.

On October 13, 1427, Lincoln College was established in the university by Richard Fleming, the Bishop of Lincoln, for his secular clergy.

On February 10, 1438, All Souls' College was founded in the university by Henry Chichele, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and King Henry VI as a graduate institution.

Magdalen College was established on July 15, 1458, in the university by William Waynflete, the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England.

In 1555, three prominent Oxford scholars, Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicholas Ridley, were burned at the stake for their Protestant beliefs during the Marian Persecutions.

The first honorary degrees are awarded at a ceremony in Oxford, with Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, and eleven others receiving the MA degree. Additionally, the Queen grants a royal crest to the city coat of arms.

On February 23, 1598, Thomas Bodley reestablishes the Duke Humfrey's Library at the university, a significant event in the history of the institution.

The Bodleian Library officially opens on November 8, 1602, with Thomas James serving as its first librarian and publishing the inaugural catalogue in 1605.

In 1603, antiquary William Camden publishes an edition of early British histories, where he inserts a claim that Alfred the Great founded the University of Oxford in 886 into Asser's Life of King Alfred.

Thomas Coryat, author of 'Coryat's Crudities', is credited with introducing the table fork and umbrella to England. He was also the first Briton to do a Grand Tour of Europe.

Established in 1621 as a Physic Garden for medicinal research, the University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens globally. It currently houses over 8,000 plant species.

From 21st to 28th March 1681, the Oxford Parliament convenes in Convocation House (with the Lords at Christ Church) to discuss the Exclusion Crisis. The Parliament is later suspended by Charles II for the rest of his reign. This marks the final instance of Parliament meeting outside London. Additionally, on 25th March, the Old Tom public house in St Aldate's opens as the Unicorn & Jacob's Well.

The Ashmolean Museum, the world's first purpose-built university museum, opens in Broad Street. It includes facilities for teaching natural philosophy and a chemistry laboratory, with Dr. Robert Plot as the first keeper and professor of chemistry.

On September 4, 1687, King James II tries to expel the Fellows of Magdalen College for their refusal to Catholicise the institution. Subsequently, on October 25, he forcibly installs Samuel Parker as the college President, leading to anti-Catholic riots.

The chapel at Trinity College, designed by Henry Aldrich with advice from Christopher Wren, is dedicated. It is considered the first Baroque college chapel.

In 1708, Joseph Trapp was appointed as the first Oxford Professor of Poetry, marking a significant milestone in the academic history of Oxford University.

On 17th May 1737, the construction of Radcliffe Library in Oxford commenced.

In 1810, JMW Turner painted 'The High Street, Oxford', which is now part of a private collection courtesy of the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.

A banquet was held in Radcliffe Library to honor The Prince Regent, Tsar Alexander of Russia, and King Frederick William III of Prussia. The following day, they were awarded honorary degrees by the University.

The newly established Oxford University Boat Club wins the first inter-university Boat Race at Henley-on-Thames. The crew wears dark blue.

J. H. Newman withdraws to Littlemore and establishes a semi-monastic community known as 'the house of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Littlemore'.

Two parliamentary commissions in 1852 issued recommendations for Oxford and Cambridge. Archibald Campbell Tait, a former headmaster of Rugby School, played a key role in the Oxford Commission, advocating for a centralized university system with a stronger focus on research, better pay for staff, and increased opportunities for students from all backgrounds.

Keble College was established in 1868 in honor of John Keble who passed away in 1866. It was designed by the renowned architect William Butterfield.

Bill Clinton was the first President of the United States to have attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

The Rhodes Scholarship was established for certain overseas students at the University of Oxford starting from July 1, 1903.

During World War 1, locals from Oxford joined the army in large numbers, while students applied for commissions as junior officers. Many Oxford University buildings were used for cadet training and as hospitals. The Oxford University Roll of Service lists 14,561 men who served during the war.

Around September 1932, Merze Tate made history by becoming the first African American woman to matriculate at the University of Oxford, joining as a member of the Society of Oxford Home-Students. Her enrollment marked a milestone for diversity and inclusion at the prestigious institution.

Howard Florey and his team at the University's Sir William Dunn School of Pathology publish their laboratory results demonstrating the in vivo bactericidal action of penicillin. Additionally, they announce the successful purification of the drug, showcasing its potential for medical use.

Reserve Constable Albert Alexander, a sepsis patient at the Radcliffe Infirmary, becomes the first person to be treated with penicillin intravenously by Howard Florey's team. The treatment is injected by Dr. Charles Fletcher, resulting in a positive reaction, although there is an insufficient supply of the drug to reverse his terminal infection. A successful treatment is achieved later in May.

Andrew Wiles, educated at Oxford, proved Fermat's Last Theorem in 1994, a significant achievement in mathematics.

Louise Richardson is inducted as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, having assumed office on 4 January.

John B. Goodenough, who performed research in Oxford, shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for the development of lithium-ion batteries.

Oxford University played a crucial role in the global response to COVID-19 by developing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. By early 2022, over 2.6 billion doses had been distributed worldwide, significantly impacting the fight against the pandemic.

In the fiscal year ending 31 July 2023, the University of Oxford had a total consolidated income of £2.92 billion, with a significant portion coming from research grants and contracts.