The University of Edinburgh has quite an extensive history of fostering the talents of students who would go on to have successful careers and even change the world. Once a place of study for such influential people as Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes series and Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, Edinburgh has been lining the pages of history books with its alumni. Even today, the institution is producing quite a few notable individuals. So here are some of the most famous alumni from the University of Edinburgh.
See also: The University Of Glasgow’s Most Famous Alumni
One of the most notable alumni of the University of Edinburgh in more recent history is former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown studied History at University and graduated with a doctorate. In his early career, he worked as a lecturer and as a television journalist before beginning his political career. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1983, and was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer before being elected as Prime Minister in 2007.
Another famous alumni from the University of Edinburgh is Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford & Sons. Although he was born in California, Mumford spent the majority of his childhood in the UK and attended King’s College School before he went to the University of Edinburgh. During his first year, he began working on the band’s debut album, Sigh No More. This album would go on to become a major success, reaching number two on the UK albums chart.
Actress and author Jane Alexander also attended Edinburgh. During her time at university, she joined the Edinburgh University Dramatic Society. She performed in The Night of the Iguana, The Sisters Rosenweig and The Great White Hope to name just a few. She is the recipient of a Tony award, and two Primetime Emmy awards as well as being nominated for four Academy Awards and three Golden Globes.
Another famous actor from the University of Edinburgh is The Office’s Ewen Macintosh. His role as accountant Keith Bishop solidified his status as a comedic actor and paved the way for his career. He has appeared on shows such as Miranda, Little Britain and Celebrity Come Dine With Me as well as films including The Confusion of Tongues and Finding Fatimah. In the future, he is set to play a leading role in a series called For The Love of Ella.
See also: The Famous People To Have Studied At The University Of Warwick
