UCL Holding history

Captain Alexander Maconochie, a retired naval captain, is UCL and Britain's first professor of Geography 1833-36.

It changed its name to University College Hospital in 1837.

1846: First operation under anaestheticRobert Liston performs the first operation under anaesthetic in Europe at University College Hospital.

By then, Bell was rich and no longer wished to sell the patent.1863: Ito Hirobume – politicsIto Hirobume, one of the Choshu Five, is one of the first international students to come to UCL, going on to become Prime Minister of Japan.

It is founded without the permission of the UCL Council, in part to protest the inadequacies of sports facilities.1892: First chair in Egyptology, Sir Flinders PetrieSir Flinders Petrie becomes the first chair in Egyptology using money from novelist and explorer Amelia Edwards.

The Institute was founded in 1902, and is today known throughout the world as the UK’s premier centre of excellence for the education and training of teachers and for the conduct of educational research.

His talent was recognised in 1913 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse".

Archibald Vivian Hill wins the Nobel Prize in 1922 (not receiving the prize until the following year, however) "for his discovery relating to the production of heat in the muscle". The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is divided equally between himself and German scientist Otto Fritz Meyerhof.

1931: Father of library scienceKnown as the father of modern library science, former student Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan establishes the Five Laws of Library Science in 1931.

Sir Henry Hallett Dale and his lifelong friend Otto Loewi, whom he met while carrying out research at UCL, win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1936 "for their discoveries relating to chemical transmission of nerve impulses".

Mawer held the position until 1942.

1943: Sir David Pye FRS becomes ProvostPye oversees a tumultuous time for the university after substantial damage is endured during the Second World War.

Considered one of the great synthetic organic chemists of the 20th century, Sir Robert Robinson wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1947 “for his investigations on plant products of biological importance, especially the alkaloids”.

Former engineering student Colin Chapman (UCL Structural Engineering 1948) creates the Lotus Mark 1, which he enters into local racing events.

He remains Provost until 1951.

He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1959 "for his discovery and development of the polarographic methods of analysis".

1974: Transatlantic network – precursor of the internetUnder the stewardship of UCL's Professor Peter Kirstein, UCL makes the first network connection to the USA – a precursor of the modern internet.

The last major building to be opened during his tenure is Wates House, home of the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, in 1975, thanks in large part to a substantial donation from the Wates Foundation.

Lighthill remains Provost for 10 years.1978: Student housingUCL's student accommodation expands to 1,500 places.

1989: Sir Derek Roberts becomes ProvostWith a professional background largely in industrial scientific research, Roberts’ appointment marks somewhat of a shift.

1991: Professor Bert Sakmann – single ion channels in cellsBert Sakmann shares the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for discoveries concerning the function of single ion channels in cells" and the invention of the patch clamp.

1994: Angel of the North sculpture – Turner Prize winnerUCL Slade School graduate Antony Gormley begins work on the iconic Angel of the North sculpture.

Expansion during his tenure includes the merger of UCL and the Institute of Child Health in 1996.

The Cruciform Building is completed. It houses the University College Hospital until 2000.

Barrister, environmental lawyer, academic and public servant, Professor Grant becomes UCL’s ninth Provost in 2003.

Christine Ohuruogu MBE (UCL Linguistics 2005) wins a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in the 400m.

Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle, a feature-length film following the French footballer during a match, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

He goes on to create In The Night Garden in 2007.

He goes on to direct Inception in 2010, shooting some of it in UCL's Gustave Tuck lecture theatre.

2012: Launch of interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts and SciencesUCL launches the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts and Sciences undergraduate degree programme.

Professor John O’Keefe, Director of the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour at UCL, is awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain - an ‘inner GPS’ - that enables us to orient ourselves.