Sir Peter Machin North (born 30 August 1936) is a British academic lawyer who served as Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, from 1984 to 2005 and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1993 to 1997.

Early life and education

North was born on 30 August 1936 in Nottingham, England. He was educated at the Humberstone Foundation School, a

state school State schools (in England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand) or public schools (Scottish English and North American English) are generally primary or secondary educational institution, schools that educate all students without charge. They are ...

in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, and at Oakham School, an

independent school An independent school is independent in its finances and governance. Also known as private schools, non-governmental, privately funded, or non-state schools, they are not administered by local, state or national governments. In British Eng ...

in Oakham, Rutland. From 1954 to 1956, he undertook national service as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment of the British Army. He then studied at

Keble College, Oxford Keble College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to th ...

, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1959, a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree in 1960, and a Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) degree in 1976.

Career

North began his academic career as a teaching fellow at Northwestern University in Chicago, United States, between 1960 and 1961. He then returned to the United Kingdom, and was an assistant lecturer (1961–1962) and then a

lecturer Lecturer is an List of academic ranks, academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. T ...

(1962–1963) at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He moved to the University of Nottingham, where he was a lecturer from 1963 to 1965. Returning to his alma mater, he was tutor in law (1965–1976) and a fellow (1965–1984) of

. In 1984, he was elected Principal of Jesus College, Oxford. Additionally, he twice served as pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford (1988–1993 and 1997–2005). From 1993 to 1997, he served as head of the university as its vice-chancellor. He retired in 2005, and was appointed an honorary fellow of Jesus College.

Reviews

North chaired the Review Body of the Independent Review on Parades and Marches in Northern Ireland, whose final report (published on 29 January 1997 and widely known as "The North Report") led to the establishment of the Parades Commission which regulates potentially controversial parades in Northern Ireland. North was also chair of a University of Oxford inquiry, established to review the running of the university. The report, published on 29 January 1998 (precisely one year after the Parades and Marches report), was also known as "The North Report". He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

on 10 March 1998. More recently, North's review of the legal alcohol limit for driving was submitted to Philip Hammond, the then

Secretary of State for Transport The Secretary of State for Transport, also referred to as the transport secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the policies of the Department for Transport. The incumbent i ...

at the end of May 2010."Bid to cut drink-driving by almost half"
''

Daily Telegraph Daily or The Daily may refer to: Journalism * Daily newspaper, newspaper issued on five to seven day of most weeks * ''The Daily'' (podcast), a podcast by ''The New York Times'' * ''The Daily'' (News Corporation), a defunct US-based iPad new ...

'', 4 June 2010.

References

External links

Peter North Fund
Jesus College,. Oxford

{{DEFAULTSORT:North, Peter 1936 births Living people Alumni of Keble College, Oxford Fellows of Keble College, Oxford Fellows of the British Academy English legal scholars British King's Counsel Principals of Jesus College, Oxford Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor Lawyers awarded knighthoods 20th-century King's Counsel