The following people and military units have received the
Freedom of the City
The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected ...
of
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
.
Individuals
*
Oliver Heywood: 1888.
*
Sir Henry Morton Stanley
Sir Henry Morton Stanley (born John Rowlands; 28 January 1841 – 10 May 1904) was a Welsh-American explorer, journalist, soldier, colonial administrator, author and politician who was famous for his exploration of Central Africa and his sear ...
: 1890.
*
Abel Heywood: 1891.
*
Thomas Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde
Thomas Gair Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde (5 February 1855 – 1 May 1933), was a British industrialist, philanthropist, Liberal politician, and peer.
Early life and career
Ashton was born at Fallowfield, Manchester, Lancashire, the son of ...
: 1892.
* James Jardine: 1892.
*
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professo ...
Sir Adolphus Ward
Sir Adolphus William Ward (2 December 1837 – 19 June 1924) was an English historian and man of letters.
Life
Ward was born at Hampstead, London, the son of John Ward. He was educated in Germany and at Peterhouse, Cambridge.
In 1866, ...
: 1897.
*
Herbert Philips
Herbert Philips of Sutton Oaks, Macclesfield, Cheshire was a philanthropist and justice of the peace.
Background
Herbert Philips was the great grandson of Nathaniel Philips, who co-founded, with his elder brother John, a tape manufacturing busin ...
: 1897.
*
Enriqueta Augustina Rylands
Enriqueta Augustina Rylands (31 May 1843 – 4 February 1908) was a British philanthropist who founded the John Rylands Library in Manchester.
Early life
Enriqueta Augustina was born in Havana, Cuba, and was one of five children including José ...
: 1899.
*
Robert Dukinfield Darbishire: 1899.
*
Richard Copley Christie: 1899.
*
Sir William Crossley : 1903.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Harry Rawson: 1903.
*
Sir William Houldsworth : 1905.
* Benn Wolfe Levy: 1905.
* George Milner: 1905.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
James Wilson Southern: 1906.
*
Rt Hon Sir Wilfrid Laurier : 1907.
*
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919) was an Australian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Australia. He was a leader of the movement for Federation, which occurred in 1901. During his three terms as prime ministe ...
: 1907.
*
Rt Hon Sir Joseph Ward: : 1907.
*
Rt Hon Sir Leander Starr Jameson : 1907.
*
Rt Hon Sir Robert Bond : 1907.
*
Rt Hon Sir Frederick Moor : 1907.
*
Rt Hon Louis Botha: 1907.
*
Sir Thomas Vansittart Bowater : 1914.
*
Rt Hon William Morris Hughes : 1916.
*
Sir Edward Holt: 1916.
*
Sir Edward Donner : 1916.
*
General
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...
Maharaja
Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king".
A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, a ...
Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur : 1917.
*
Sir James Meston : 1917.
*
Rt Hon Lord Sinha : 1917.
*
Rt Hon Sir Robert Borden : 1917.
*
Rt Hon William Massey: 1917.
*
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Rt Hon Jan Smuts PC OM CH *
DTD ED KC FRS: 1917.
*
Rt Hon Lord Morris : 1917.
*
Rt Hon David Lloyd George: 1918.
*
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
: 1918.
*
Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty
Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (17 January 1871 – 12 March 1936) was a Royal Navy officer. After serving in the Mahdist War and then the response to the Boxer Rebellion, he commanded the 1st Battlecruiser Squadro ...
: 1919.
*
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Sir Douglas Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, (; 19 June 1861 – 29 January 1928) was a senior officer of the British Army. During the First World War, he commanded the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front from late 1915 unti ...
: 1919.
*
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Ferdinand Foch: 1923.
*
Rt Hon William Lyon Mackenzie King : 1926.
*
Rt Hon Lord Bruce of Melbourne : 1926.
*
Rt Hon Gordon Coates : 1926.
*
General
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...
Rt Hon J. B. M. Hertzog : 1926.
*
W. T. Cosgrave: 1926.
*
Walter Stanley Monroe
Walter Stanley Monroe (May 14, 1871 – October 6, 1952) was a businessman and conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1924 to 1928 as leader of the Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party.
He was born in Irela ...
: 1926.
*
Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab : 1926.
*
C. P. Scott: 1930.
*
Rt Hon Earl of Derby : 1934.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Hermann Julius Goldschmidt: 1937.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
William Turner Jackson: 1937.
*
Rt Hon Sir Winston Churchill : 1943.
*
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Rt Hon Sir Bernard Montgomery : 1945.
*
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Tedder : 1945.
*
Admiral of the Fleet Rt Hon Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope : 1945.
*
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Rt Hon Sir Harold Alexander : 1945.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Sir William Kay: 1949.
*
Rt Hon Clement Attlee : 1953.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Sir Miles Ewart Mitchell: 1954.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Dame Mary Kingsmill Jones : 1956.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Wright Robinson: 1956
*
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professo ...
Sir John Stopford : 1956.
*
Sir John Barbirolli : 1958.
*
Rt Hon Lord Simon of Wythenshawe: 1959.
*
Rt Hon Earl of Derby : 1961.
*
Lady Simon of Wythenshawe: 1964.
*
Sir Matthew Busby KCSG: 1967.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Thomas Francis Regan: 1973.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Sir Richard Harper : 1973.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Sir Robert Thomas: 1973.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Dame Elizabeth Yarwood : 1974.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Mrs. Nellie Beer : 1974.
*
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professo ...
Sir Bernard Lovell : 1977.
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...
Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw : 1984.
*
The Very Reverend Alfred Jowett
Alfred Jowett CBE was Dean of Manchester in the last third of the 20th Century. Born on 29 May 1914, educated at High Storrs and St Catharine's College, Cambridge and ordained in 1945, he began his career at St John the Evangelist, Goole. ...
: 1984.
*
Sir Alexander Ferguson : 1999.
*
Anthony Wilson: 2007.
*
Sir Robert Charlton : 2008.
*
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professo ...
Sir Andre Geim : 9 October 2013.
*
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professo ...
Sir Konstantin Novoselov : 9 October 2013.
Military units
* The
Manchester Regiment
The Manchester Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1958. The regiment was created during the 1881 Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot and the 96th ...
: 1946.
*
613 (City of Manchester) Squadron,
RAuxAF: 1957.
* The
King's Regiment: 1962.
* The
Grenadier Guards
"Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it."
, colors =
, colors_label =
, march = Slow: " Scipio"
, mascot =
, equipment =
, equipment ...
: 1964.
*
HMS Manchester,
RN: 1998.
* The
Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) (LANCS) is an infantry regiment of the line within the British Army, part of the King's Division. Headquartered in Preston, it recruits throughout the North West of England. The D ...
: 6 December 2006.
*
207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers): 2 February 2011
* 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery
103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery: 25 November 2020.
Honorary citizens
On 12 July 2017, American singer
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande-Butera ( ; born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four-octave vocal range has received critical acclaim, and her personal life has been the subject of widespread media attention. She has received ...
became the first
honorary citizen
Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a city or other government on a foreign or native individual whom it considers to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. The honour usually is symbolic and does not confer an ...
of Manchester, after a unanimous vote by the
Manchester City Council.
References
{{reflist
Manchester-related lists
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...