The University Pitt Club, popularly referred to as the Pitt Club, the UPC, or merely as Club, is a private members' club of the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, with a previously male-only membership but now open to both men and women.

History

The Pitt Club was founded in

Michaelmas term Michaelmas term is the first academic term of the academic year in a number of English-speaking universities and schools in the northern hemisphere, especially in the United Kingdom. Michaelmas term derives its name from the Feast of St Micha ...

1835, named in honour of Prime Minister

William Pitt the Younger William Pitt the Younger (28 May 175923 January 1806) was a British statesman, the youngest and last prime minister of Great Britain (before the Acts of Union 1800) and then first prime minister of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Ire ...

, who had been a student at

Pembroke College, Cambridge Pembroke College (officially "The Master, Fellows and Scholars of the College or Hall of Valence-Mary") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college is the third-oldest college of the university and has over 700 ...

. It was originally intended as one of the

Pitt Clubs Pitt Clubs were private members clubs formed in Great Britain in the 18th and 19th century to memorialise William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806). Although the London Pitt Club was formed in 1793, it was only after the death of Pitt that more "countr ...

, a series of political clubs set up across

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

, 'to do honour to the name and memory of Mr William Pitt, to uphold in general the political principles for which he stood'. In particular the University Pitt Club was intended 'to assist the local party organisations of the town of Cambridge to return worthy, that is to say,

Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. Th ...

, representatives to

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

and to the Borough Council'. From the start, however, there was a social element as the Club's political events were combined with 'the pleasures of social intercourse at dinner, when party fervour among friends, dining in party uniform, might be warmed towards a political incandescence by the speeches to successive toasts'. Over the course of the Pitt Club's first few decades, the political element diminished whilst the social element increased. By '1868, at the latest, the Pitt Club adceased from all political activity and . . . elected members to its social advantages without any regards whatever to considerations of political party'. Though the Club's ''raison d'être'' changed in its early years, it 'was from the first, and has always remained, an undergraduate organization'. The Pitt Club has been in almost continuous operation since its founding. During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, however, the Club's existence became increasingly tenuous as more Cambridge men joined the forces. It temporarily closed in October 1917 but reopened in early 1919. By 1920, the Club had 'become nearly normal again, "the only real trouble", according to the Minutes, "being the horrible scarcity of

whisky Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden c ...

'". The premises were commandeered during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and made available to the public. One observer, A. S. F. Gow, remarked at the time that the Pitt Club's 'eponymous hero looks down from the pediment, with a nose visibly tiptilted in disgust, upon an enormous notice displaying the legend "

British Restaurant British Restaurants were communal kitchens created in 1940 during the Second World War to help people who had been bombed out of their homes, had run out of ration coupons or otherwise needed help. In 1943, 2,160 British Restaurants served 600,0 ...

"'. As for the members, they were forced to seek alternative accommodation and eventually settled for temporary rooms above the post office in Trinity Street, which they called the Interim Club. On 7 November 2017, a referendum to elect women into the club passed. This did not pass without controversy though, with only resident members being granted a vote.

Clubhouse

The Club was a peripatetic organisation during its first few years, meeting variously in the rooms of members and in other venues. In 1841, it acquired rooms over the shop of Mr Richard Hutt, bookseller, at 29 Trinity Street, which it occupied until 1843. From 1843 until 1866, the Pitt Club's rooms were located over the furniture shop of a Mr Metcalfe at 74 Bridge Street, on the corner of All Saints' Passage. Since 1866, the Club's premises have been at 7a

Jesus Lane Jesus Lane is a street in central Cambridge, England. Also located on Jesus Lane are Wesley House, Methodist theological college (or seminary), on the north side and Westcott House, a Church of England theological college, on the south side ...

. The building was originally designed in 1863 as Victorian

Roman Baths In ancient Rome, (from Greek , "hot") and (from Greek ) were facilities for bathing. usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes, while were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout ...

by Sir

Matthew Digby Wyatt Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt (28 July 1820 – 21 May 1877) was a British architect and art historian who became Secretary of the Great Exhibition, Surveyor of the East India Company and the first Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Ca ...

. The baths were an extremely short-lived venture, opening in late February 1863 and closing by December of that year. After the closure, a liquidation sale ensued, and the building was auctioned off in 1865, being bought by its own architect, Wyatt, for £2,700. He rented out half of the building to the Pitt Club, and the other half to Orme's Billiards Rooms. In 1907, the Club bought the entire building. Following a fire in the same year, the interior of the Club was extensively renovated. There were further renovations in 1925, and the dining room was paneled in 1927. The large plaque of Pitt's head that adorns the pediment over the entrance to the Club was presented in February 1933 by General Sir Neill Malcolm. It had formerly been on a wall at Bowling-Green House in

Putney Putney () is a district of southwest London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. History Putney is an ancient paris ...

, Pitt's place of death, which was pulled down in 1932. 7a Jesus Lane front room

For most of the century after its purchase of 7a Jesus Lane, the Club occupied the whole of the prominent neo-classical building. The clubhouse was designated a

Grade II listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

in 1950. As the Club went through mounting financial difficulties in the 1990s, it sold a 25-year leasehold on the ground floor of its building to the

Pizza Express PizzaExpress is a British multinational restaurant group, owned by a group of bondholders. It has over 470 restaurants across the United Kingdom and 100 overseas in Europe, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, the Philippines, the Unite ...

chain in October 1997, although the ground floor had been in use as a restaurant (once known as Xanadu), since at least 1982. The Club now occupies the first floor of the building.

Notable members

Notable members of the club include:

Royalty

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1841–1910). *

Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (Albert Victor Christian Edward; 8 January 1864 – 14 January 1892) was the eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) and grandson of the re ...

(1864–1892). *

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1865–1936). * Prince Frederick Duleep Singh (1868–1926), son of the last

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, an ...

of the

Sikh Empire The Sikh Empire was a state originating in the Indian subcontinent, formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established an empire based in the Punjab. The empire existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahor ...

. * Captain Bertram Brooke, Tuan Muda of Sarawak (heir apparent) of The

Raj of Sarawak (While I breathe, I hope) , national_anthem = '' Gone Forth Beyond the Sea'' , capital = Kuching , common_languages = English, Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, Sarawak Malay, Chinese etc. , government_type = Absol ...

(1876–1965). *

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1948–).

Academics

(1820–1877), architect, art historian, Secretary of the

Great Exhibition The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary The Crystal Palace, structure in which it was held), was an International Exhib ...

, first

Slade Professor of Fine Art The Slade Professorship of Fine Art is the oldest professorship of art and art history at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and University College, London. History The chairs were founded concurrently in 1869 by a bequest from the art collecto ...

at the University of Cambridge. * Arthur Christopher Benson (1862–1925), English essayist, poet, author and academic, and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He is noted for having written the words of the song "

Land of Hope and Glory "Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar written in 1901 and lyrics by A. C. Benson later added in 1902. Composition The music to which the words of the refrain 'Land of Hope and Glory, &c' below ar ...

". *

M. R. James Montague Rhodes James (1 August 1862 – 12 June 1936) was an English author, medievalist scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918), and of Eton College (1918–1936). He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambrid ...

(1862–1936), author, medievalist, provost of

King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the city ...

(1905–1918), and of Eton College (1918–1936). He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1913–15). * Walter George Headlam (1866–1908), a British classical scholar and poet, perhaps best remembered for his work on the Mimes of Herodas. He was described as "one of the leading Greek scholars of his time". *

Robert Carr Bosanquet Robert Carr Bosanquet (1871–1935) was a British archaeologist, operating in the Aegean and Britain and teaching at the University of Liverpool from 1906 to 1920 as the first holder of the Chair of Classical Archaeology there. Life and work Bo ...

(1871–1935), British archaeologist and first holder of the Chair of Classical Archaeology at the University of Liverpool. *

John Samuel Budgett John Samuel Budgett (16 June 1872 – 19 January 1904) was a British zoologist and embryologist. He spent most of his short career on the genus ''Polypterus'' (bichir). This is found in the lakes, river margins, swamps, and floodplains of trop ...

(1872–1904), British zoologist and embryologist. * Sir Walter Morley Fletcher (1873–1933), Fellow of

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

, physiologist and medical researcher. *

John Maynard Keynes John Maynard Keynes, 1st Baron Keynes, ( ; 5 June 1883 – 21 April 1946), was an English economist whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments. Originally trained in ...

(1883–1946), renowned economist and member of the

Bloomsbury Group The Bloomsbury Group—or Bloomsbury Set—was a group of associated English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in the first half of the 20th century, including Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, E. M. Forster and Lytton Strac ...

. *

James Bond (ornithologist) James Bond (January 4, 1900 – February 14, 1989) was an American ornithologist and expert on the birds of the Caribbean, having written the definitive book on the subject: '' Birds of the West Indies'', first published in 1936. He served as a c ...

(1900–1989), the namesake for Ian Fleming's character

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

, ornithologist and expert on the birds of the Caribbean. He was the sole American member of the Pitt Club. * James Hamilton Doggart (1900–1989), leading ophthalmologist, lecturer, writer, cricketer, and a member of the

Cambridge Apostles The Cambridge Apostles (also known as ''Conversazione Society'') is an intellectual society at the University of Cambridge founded in 1820 by George Tomlinson, a Cambridge student who became the first Bishop of Gibraltar.W. C. Lubenow, ''The Ca ...

and the

. *

Anthony Blunt Anthony Frederick Blunt (26 September 1907 – 26 March 1983), styled Sir Anthony Blunt KCVO from 1956 to November 1979, was a leading British art historian and Soviet spy. Blunt was professor of art history at the University of London, dire ...

(1907–1983), spy, leading art historian and member of the

Cambridge Five The Cambridge Spy Ring was a ring of spies in the United Kingdom that passed information to the Soviet Union during World War II and was active from the 1930s until at least into the early 1950s. None of the known members were ever prosecuted for ...

. * David Watkin (1941–2018), architectural historian and President of the University Pitt Club.

Politicians

George Smythe, 7th Viscount Strangford George Smythe, 7th Viscount Strangford (16 April 181823 November 1857), styled The Honourable George Smythe until 1855, was a British Conservative politician, best known for his association with Benjamin Disraeli and the Young England movemen ...

(1818–1857), a British Conservative politician, best known for his association with Benjamin Disraeli and the Young England movement. He served briefly as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1846 under Sir Robert Peel. He was President of the University Pitt Club. *

John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland John James Robert Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland, (13 December 18184 August 1906), known as Lord John Manners before 1888, was an English statesman. Youth and poetry Rutland was born at Belvoir Castle, the younger son of John Manners, 5th Duk ...

(1818–1906), English statesman, Postmaster-General, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and poet. *

James Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton James Charles Herbert Welbore Ellis Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton DL (17 September 1818 – 19 December 1896), styled Viscount Somerton from birth until 1868, was a Conservative and later Peelite member of parliament in the United Kingdom of Great ...

(1818–1896), Conservative Party politician. *

Edward Herbert, 3rd Earl of Powis Edward James Herbert, 3rd Earl of Powis (5 November 1818 – 7 May 1891), styled Viscount Clive between 1839 and 1848, was a British peer and politician. Background Powis was born at The Angel Hotel, Pershore, Worcestershire, the eldest son o ...

(1818–1891), British peer and politician. *

Lord George Manners Lord George John Manners (22 June 1820, in London – 8 September 1874, in Cheveley) was a British nobleman and Conservative Party politician who represented Cambridgeshire for over two decades, from 1847 to 1857 and from 1863 to 1874, when he d ...

(1820–1874), British nobleman and Conservative Party politician. *

George Hay, Earl of Gifford George Hay, Earl of Gifford (26 April 1822 – 22 December 1862) was a British Liberal Party politician. Lord Gifford was born at Yester House, the eldest son of the 8th Marquess of Tweeddale. He was educated at Trinity College and Trinit ...

(1822–1862), British Liberal politician. *

Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson, (7 August 1823 – 25 February 1913), was a British politician. He was the son of Thomas Bolton (a nephew of Vice Admiral The 1st Viscount Nelson) by his wife Frances Elizabeth Eyre. On 28 February 1835 his ...

(1823–1913), British politician. *

Frederick Peel Sir Frederick Peel (26 October 1823 – 6 June 1906), was a British Liberal Party politician and railway commissioner. Background and education Peel was second son of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, by his wife Julia Floyd, daugh ...

(1823–1906), British Liberal Party politician and railway commissioner. *

William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter William Alleyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter PC (30 April 1825 – 14 July 1895), styled Lord Burghley between 1825 and 1867, was a British peer and Conservative politician. He served as Treasurer of the Household between 1866 and 1867 and as ...

(1825–1895), British peer and politician. *

Edward Macnaghten, Baron Macnaghten Edward Macnaghten, Baron Macnaghten, (3 February 1830 – 17 February 1913) was an Anglo-Irish law lord, barrister, rower, and Conservative- Unionist politician. Early life and rowing Macnaghten was born in Bloomsbury, London, the second so ...

(1830–1913), Anglo-Irish rower, barrister, Conservative-Unionist politician and law lord. *

Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue (16 April 1854 – 29 October 1932), styled Viscount Ebrington from 1861 to 1905, was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1881 until 1892 and later in the House of Lords havin ...

(1854–1932), British Liberal politician. *

Alfred Lyttelton Alfred Lyttelton KC (7 February 1857 – 5 July 1913) was a British politician and sportsman from the Lyttelton family who excelled at both football and cricket. During his time at university he participated in Varsity Matches in five sports ...

(1857–1913), politician and the first man to represent England at both football and cricket. Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1903 and 1905. *

Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley Ivo Francis Walter Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley (13 March 1859 – 10 April 1927), styled The Honourable Ivo Bligh until 1900, lord of the manor, lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was a British nobility, British nobleman, parliamentarian and cri ...

(1859–1927), aristocrat, parliamentarian and cricketer. *

William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman William Clive Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman, PC, JP, DL (31 December 1864 – 14 August 1935) was a British Conservative politician and peer. He notably served as Home Secretary between 1922 and 1924. He was also an active cricketer. Bac ...

(1864–1935), former Home Secretary between 1922 and 1924 and an active cricketer. *

Lancelot Lowther, 6th Earl of Lonsdale Lancelot Edward Lowther, 6th Earl of Lonsdale, OBE, DL (25 June 1867 – 11 March 1953) was an English peer, the fourth and youngest son of Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale. Biography Lowther was educated at Malvern College and Magdalene ...

(1867–1953), British peer. *

Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire (31 May 18686 May 1938), known as Victor Cavendish until 1908, was a British peer and politician who served as Governor General of Canada. A member of the Cavendish family, he was ed ...

(1868–1938), British peer and politician who served as Governor-General of Canada. *

Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just Edward Charles Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just (29 May 1870 – 26 November 1941), was a British banker and politician. His father, Henry Riversdale Grenfell, was Governor of the Bank of England between 1881 and 1883. William Grenfell, 1st Baron ...

(1870–1941), British banker and politician. He was a named partner at Morgan, Grenfell & Co., a director of the Bank of England (1905 to 1940) and MP for the City of London (1922–1935). *

Lord Richard Cavendish (1871–1946) Lord Richard Frederick Cavendish, (31 January 1871 – 7 January 1946), known as Richard Cavendish until 1908, was a British aristocrat, author, magistrate, and politician. Background and education A prominent figure from the Cavendish family ...

, British aristocrat, author, magistrate, and Liberal politician. *

Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford Lieutenant-Colonel Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford, DL, JP (6 October 1873 – 21 March 1957), styled Viscount Newport from 1898 to 1915, was a British peer, Conservative politician and soldier. He was a major landowner, owning up to . ...

(1873–1957), British peer, Conservative politician and soldier. *

Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton Victor Alexander George Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton, (9 August 1876 – 25 October 1947), styled Viscount Knebworth from 1880 to 1891, was a British politician and colonial administrator. He served as Governor of Bengal between 192 ...

(1876–1947), British politician, Governor of Bengal,

League of Nations The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...

Commissioner. *

Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland Lawrence John Lumley Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland, (11 June 1876 – 6 February 1961), styled Lord Dundas until 1892 and Earl of Ronaldshay between 1892 and 1929, was a British Conservative politician. An expert on India, he served as Secreta ...

(1876–1961), British Conservative politician and Secretary of State for India. *

William Dudley Ward William Dudley Ward PC (14 October 1877 – 11 November 1946) was an English sportsman and Liberal politician. Early life Dudley Ward was born in London, the son of William Humble Dudley Ward and the great-grandson of William Humble Wa ...

(1877–1946), British Liberal politician and sportsman. *

John Wodehouse, 3rd Earl of Kimberley John Wodehouse, 3rd Earl of Kimberley, (11 November 1883 – 16 April 1941), styled Lord Wodehouse from 1902 to 1932, was a British peer and Liberal politician. He was a champion polo player. Background Wodehouse was the eldest son of John Wode ...

(1883–1941), British peer, Liberal politician and a champion polo player. *

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British naval officer, colonial administrator and close relative of the British royal family. Mountbatten, who was of German ...

(1900–1979), statesman, naval leader, and the last

viceroy of India The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 19 ...

. He was an uncle of

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021) was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he served as the consort of the British monarch from El ...

, and second cousin once removed of

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

. *

John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel John Scott Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel, (26 October 1905 – 17 August 1992) was a British politician, sitting as a National Liberal and Conservative Member of Parliament before the party was fully assimilated into the Unionist Party in Sco ...

(1905–1992), Member of Parliament and peer. *

James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster, (8 December 1907 – 29 March 1983) styled Lord Willoughby de Eresby from 1910 to 1951, was a British Conservative politician. Early life Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willo ...

(1907–1983), British aristocrat, soldier, and Member of Parliament. *

Archibald Acheson, 6th Earl of Gosford Archibald Alexander John Stanley Acheson, 6th Earl of Gosford, (14 January 1911 – 17 February 1966), styled Viscount Acheson until 1954, was a British peer, politician, and a Royal Air Force officer. Early life Archibald Acheson was the elder ...

(1911–1966), British peer, politician, and a Royal Air Force officer. Whilst at

Harrow School (The Faithful Dispensation of the Gifts of God) , established = (Royal Charter) , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent schoolBoarding school , religion = Church of E ...

he was Inter-Public Schools Athletics Champion for the 880 yards (1929). *

George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe George Patrick John Rushworth Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe, Baron Jellicoe of Southampton, (4 April 1918 – 22 February 2007), was a British politician, diplomat and businessman. Lord Jellicoe was the only son but sixth and youngest chil ...

(1918–2007), British politician, diplomat, businessman and the commander of the Special Boat Service in WW2. *

Kwasi Kwarteng Akwasi Addo Alfred Kwarteng (born 26 May 1975) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Spelthorne in northern Surrey since May 2010. He was Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industria ...

, (1975–), British Conservative Party politician,

Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...

between September and October 2022.

Actors

John Cleese John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and ...

(1939–), comic actor and co-founder of

Monty Python Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) were a British comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'', which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four ...

. *

Alexander Armstrong Alexander Henry Fenwick Armstrong (born 2 March 1970) is an English actor, comedian, radio personality, television presenter and singer. He is the host of the BBC One game show ''Pointless'', as well as the morning show on Classic FM. He is ...

(1970–), best known as one half of the comedy duo

Armstrong and Miller Armstrong and Miller are an English comedy double act consisting of the actor-comedians Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller. They have performed in two eponymous television sketch shows, the satirical ''Timeghost'' podcast, and many individual ...

and as host of the BBC TV game show

Pointless ''Pointless'' is a British television quiz show produced by Banijay subsidiary Remarkable Television for the BBC. It is hosted by Alexander Armstrong. In each episode four teams of two contestants attempt to find correct but obscure answers to ...

. *

Tom Hiddleston Thomas William Hiddleston (born 9 February 1981) is an English actor. He gained international fame portraying Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), starting with ''Thor'' in 2011 and most recently in the Disney+ series ''Loki'' in 2021 ...

(1981–), recipient of several awards, including a Golden Globe Award and a Laurence Olivier Award. *

Eddie Redmayne Edward John David Redmayne (; born 6 January 1982) is an English actor. Known for his roles in biopics and blockbusters, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Olivier Awards. He ...

(1982–), Academy Award for Best Actor winner (2015).

Journalists and authors

E. F. Benson Edward Frederic Benson (24 July 1867 – 29 February 1940) was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer. Early life E.F. Benson was born at Wellington College (Berkshire), Wellington College in Berkshir ...

(1867–1940), novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer. *

George William Lyttelton The Honourable, The Hon George William Lyttelton (6 January 1883 – 1 May 1962) was a British teacher and ''littérateur'' from the Lyttelton family. Known in his lifetime as an inspiring teacher of classics and English literature at Eton C ...

(1883–1962), British teacher and littérateur. *

David Frost Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was a British television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ' ...

(1939–2013), television host, media personality, comedian and writer, known for his interviews with

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

. * Andrew Roberts (1963–), historian, journalist, Visiting Professor at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, Visiting Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. *

Simon Sebag Montefiore Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore (; born 27 June 1965) is a British historian, television presenter and author of popular history books and novels, including ''Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar' (2003), Monsters: History's Most Evil Men and ...

(1965–), historian, television presenter and author of popular history books and novels.

Clerics

* George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman (1823–1895), a Church of England clergyman and antiquary. *

George Herbert (priest) George Herbert (25 November 1825 – 15 March 1894) was an Anglican priest. A son of Edward Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis, he was Dean of Hereford. Herbert was educated at Eton College and St John's College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was presiden ...

(1825–1894), Anglican priest and Dean of Hereford. *

Reverend Frederick Gunton The Reverend is an honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. ''The Reverend'' is correctly ...

(d. 1893), Dean of

Magdalene College, Cambridge Magdalene College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary ...

and President of the University Pitt Club. * Edward Lyttelton (1855–1942), English sportsman, schoolmaster and cleric. Headmaster of

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

(1905–1916). England International Footballer & 1876 FA Cup finalist. *

Lionel Ford Lionel George Bridges Justice Ford (3 September 1865 – 27 March 1932) was an Anglican priest who served as Dean of York after two headmasterships at notable English independent schools. Biography Ford was born in Paddington, London, the son ...

(1865–1932), Anglican priest and

Dean of York Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

. Headmaster of

Harrow School (The Faithful Dispensation of the Gifts of God) , established = (Royal Charter) , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent schoolBoarding school , religion = Church of E ...

(1910–1925). *

Alfred Newman Gilbey Alfred Newman Gilbey (1901–1998) was a British Roman Catholic priest and monsignor. He was the longest-serving chaplain to the University of Cambridge, England. He has been described as the best-known Roman Catholic priest in England during th ...

(1901–1998), Catholic chaplain to Cambridge University, and

protonotary apostolic In the Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic (PA; Latin: ''protonotarius apostolicus'') is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college of prelates in the Roman Curia or, outside Rome, an honorary prelate on whom the pop ...

Athletes

* Francis Grimston (1822–1865), amateur cricketer. *

John Goldie (barrister) John Haviland Dashwood Goldie (March 1849 – April 1896) was an English rower, and barrister. He was the Cambridge University Boat Club President between 1870 and 1872, won the Colquhoun Sculls in 1870 and captained Leander Club bet ...

(1849–1896), English rower and barrister, namesake for the second Cambridge boat

Goldie (Cambridge University Boat Club) The Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England. The club was founded in 1828 and has been located at the Goldie Boathouse on the River Cam, Cambridge since 1882. Nowadays, training primarily ...

. *

Charles Gurdon Charles Gurdon (3 December 1855 – 26 June 1931) was an English barrister, judge, rower and rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Richmond. Gurdon represented England fourteen times during the early developmen ...

(1855–1931), English rower and rugby union forward, captained an England international side. *

Kynaston Studd Sir John Edward Kynaston Studd, 1st Baronet (26 July 1858 – 14 January 1944), known as "JEK", was a British cricketer, businessman and Lord Mayor of London. Family Studd was born at Tedworth House, Tidworth, Wiltshire. He married, firstly, H ...

(1858–1944), British cricketer, businessman and

Lord Mayor of London The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional powe ...

. *

Martin Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke Martin Bladen Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke (16 August 1860 – 10 October 1938), generally known as Lord Hawke, was an English amateur cricketer active from 1881 to 1911 who played for Yorkshire and England. He was born in Willingham by Stow, near Ga ...

(1860-1938), international cricketer and President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). *

Frederick I. Pitman Frederick (Freddie) Islay Pitman (18 April 1863 – 22 January 1942) was a British rower who rowed in the Boat Race three times and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls and the Wingfield Sculls in 1886. Biography Pitman was born at Edinb ...

(1863–1942), British rower. *

Stanley Muttlebury Stanley Duff Muttlebury (29 April 1866 – 3 May 1933) was an English rower notable in the annals of rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Parentage Muttlebury was born 29 April 1866 in London, England, the only child of Captain Jame ...

(1866–1933), 'The Mighty Muttle', English rower notable in the annals of rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. * Geoffrey Cornewall (1869–1951), British archer who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics. * Claude Goldie (1876–1956), English rower and soldier. * Raymond Etherington-Smith (1877–1913), doctor and British Olympic rower. * Graham Maitland (1879–1914), English rower. *

Claude Taylor (rower) Claude Waterhouse Hearn Taylor Order of the British Empire, CBE, Distinguished Service Order, DSO (born 19 October 1880) was an England, English rowing (sport), rower who twice won the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta. Taylor was born in Lo ...

(born 1880), English rower. *

Banner Johnstone Banner Carruthers Johnstone (11 November 1882 – 20 June 1964) was a British oarsman who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. Johnstone was born in Bebington, then lived in Cheshire and was educated at Eton, where he was captain of the boa ...

(1882–1964), British Olympic rower. * Ronald Powell (rower) (1884–1930), English rower. * Eric Powell (rower) (1886–1933), English schoolmaster, artist and rower who competed for Great Britain in the 1908 Summer Olympics. *

Edward Williams (rower) Edward Gordon Williams (20 July 1888 – 12 August 1915) was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during the First World War. Williams was born at Honiton, Devon, and educated at Eton and Trinity ...

(1888–1915), British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, killed in action in the First World War. *

Harold Abrahams Harold Maurice Abrahams (15 December 1899 – 14 January 1978) was an English track and field athlete. He was Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metres sprint, a feat depicted in the 1981 film '' Chariots of Fire''. Biography Early life ...

(1899–1978), Olympic track and field champion immortalized in the film ''

Chariots of Fire ''Chariots of Fire'' is a 1981 British historical sports drama film directed by Hugh Hudson, written by Colin Welland and produced by David Puttnam. It is based on the true story of two British athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a de ...

''. * Robert Morrison (rower) (1902–1980), British Olympic rower. *

David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, KCMG KStJ (9 February 1905 – 22 October 1981), styled Lord Burghley before 1956 and also known as David Burghley, was an English athlete, sports official, peer, and Conservative Party poli ...

(1905–1981), Olympic gold-medalist on whom the character Lord Lindsay in ''

'' is based. * Michael Warriner (1908–1986), British Olympic rower and gold medallist (1928). Three-time boat race winner and President of Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC). *

Anthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete Anthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete (14 April 1909 – 12 May 1950) was an English amateur steeplechaser, who raced in the Grand National. He also inspired the Queen Mother's interest in National Hunt racing. Early life Mildmay w ...

(1909–1950), celebrated amateur steeplechaser, who raced in the Grand National.

Other

Rudolph Feilding, 8th Earl of Denbigh Rudolph (Rollo) William Basil Feilding, 8th Earl of Denbigh, 7th Earl of Desmond (9 April 1823 – 10 March 1892) was a British peer, succeeding to his titles on the death in 1865 of his father, the 7th Earl of Denbigh. He was noted as a Rom ...

(1823–1892), British peer and noted Roman Catholic convert. * Arthur Murray Goodhart (1866–1941), British composer and organist, principal of

Guildhall School of Music The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a conservatoire and drama school located in the City of London, United Kingdom. Established in 1880, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in all aspects of classical music and jazz ...

, Conductor of the Concerts of the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke of ...

. *

Charles Grey, 5th Earl Grey Charles Robert Grey, 5th Earl Grey DL (15 December 1879 – 2 April 1963), styled Viscount Howick between 1894 and 1917, was an English nobleman, the son of Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey. Grey was born in London in 1879 and was the son of t ...

(1879–1963), English nobleman. *

Roland Nelson Roland Hugh Nelson (7 February 1881 – 19 December 1940) was an English barrister and rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta. Nelson was born in London, the son of John Henry Nelson of Stanhope Gardens. He was educated at Eton and ...

(1881–1940), English rower, barrister and private secretary to the

First Lord of the Admiralty The First Lord of the Admiralty, or formally the Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty, was the political head of the English and later British Royal Navy. He was the government's senior adviser on all naval affairs, responsible for the di ...

and the

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. * Evelyn de Rothschild (1886–1917), member of the

Rothschild family The Rothschild family ( , ) is a wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish family originally from Frankfurt that rose to prominence with Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744–1812), a court factor to the German Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel in the Free City of F ...

and soldier. *

John Fremantle, 4th Baron Cottesloe John Walgrave Halford Fremantle, 4th Baron Cottesloe, 5th Baron Fremantle, GBE, TD (2 March 1900 – 21 April 1994) was a British aristocrat and public official. He served as the Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain and the South Bank ...

(1900–1994), Chairman of the

Arts Council of Great Britain The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. It was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England (now Arts Council England), the Scottish Arts Council (l ...

and the South Bank Theatre Board. * Edric Hamilton-Russell (1904–1984), British rower and mining engineer who was director of pre-nationalisation collieries. *

Guy Burgess Guy Francis de Moncy Burgess (16 April 1911 – 30 August 1963) was a British diplomat and Soviet agent, and a member of the Cambridge Five spy ring that operated from the mid-1930s to the early years of the Cold War era. His defection in 1951 ...

(1911–1963), spy, diplomat and member of the

. *

Claud Phillimore, 4th Baron Phillimore Claud Stephen Phillimore, 4th Baron Phillimore (15 January 1911 – 29 March 1994) was an English architect specialising in larger country houses who succeeded to his family's title in 1990. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he ...

(1911–1994), British architect. * Francis Edward Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 8th Baron Thurlow (1912–2013), British diplomat and colonial governor of The Bahamas. * Christopher Mallaby (1936–2022), British diplomat closely involved in German reunification. *

Karan Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria, (born 26 November 1961) is a British Indian businessman, life peer in the UK House of Lords, and a university chancellor. Bilimoria founded the global beer brand, Cobra Beer and is the company's chai ...

(1961–), British Indian entrepreneur and a university chancellor, well known for founding the global beer brand

Cobra Beer Cobra Beer is a beer brand manufactured in the United Kingdom and India. The group's primary product is a premium beer with an alcohol strength of 4.5% by volume (originally 4.8%). The beer was founded in 1989 by Karan Bilimoria and Arjun Reddy. ...

. * Rupert Goodman (1963–), British publisher, international affairs expert and entrepreneur. *

Harry Primrose, Lord Dalmeny Harry Ronald Neil Primrose, Lord Dalmeny (born 20 November 1967), known as Harry Dalmeny, is a British aristocrat and the Chairman of Sotheby's in the United Kingdom. A member of the British British nobility, aristocracy, he is the heir to ten n ...

(1967–), British aristocrat and the Chairman of

Sotheby's Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, and ...

in the United Kingdom.

Women

After 182 years of activity, the club allowed women to join in 2017. This came after a trial run in which female guests were allowed access in the daytime (having previously been allowed in only 'after dark except Sunday lunch') but, as well as male guests, were barred from buying their own drinks. Before women's admission, the club was dominated by 'old boys' of a select group of boarding schools, who allegedly decided which women should be invited to parties by rating their looks out of 10.

Official website

pittclub.org.uk

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=September 2019 Clubs and societies of the University of Cambridge Dining clubs 1835 establishments in England Grade II listed buildings in Cambridge William Pitt the Younger