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 Ir ...

, 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 "cou ...

, 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 ...

, '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. The ...

, representatives to

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

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 List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, 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 ca ...

'". 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 opposi ...

and made available to the public. One observer,

A. S. F. Gow Andrew Sydenham Farrar Gow (27 August 1886 – 2 February 1978) was an English classical scholar and teacher. Apart from eleven years as a master at Eton College between 1914 and 1925 his career was entirely at Trinity College, Cambridge. At ...

, 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 sid ...

. 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. 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 Ir ...

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 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 Death and state funeral of Edward VII, his death in 1910. The second chil ...

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 ...

(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 his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother ...

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1865–1936). * Prince

Frederick Duleep Singh Prince Frederick Victor Duleep Singh, MVO, TD, FSA (23 January 1868 – 15 August 1926), also known as Prince Freddy, was a younger son of Sir Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. Early life Prince Frederick was born in Lo ...

(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, a ...

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 Captain Bertram Willes Dayrell Brooke, Tuan Muda of Sarawak (8 August 1876, in Kuching – 15 September 1965, in Weybridge, Surrey) was a member of the family of White Rajahs who ruled Sarawak for a hundred years. Life Brooke was the son of Cha ...

, Tuan Muda of Sarawak (heir apparent) of The Raj of Sarawak (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 ...

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

Academics

* Matthew Digby Wyatt (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 structure in which it was held), was an international exhibition which took pl ...

, first Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Cambridge. *

Arthur Christopher Benson Arthur Christopher Benson, (24 April 1862 – 17 June 1925) was an English essayist, poet and academic, and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He wrote the lyrics of Edward Elgar’s '' Coronation Ode'', including the words of the ...

(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". * M. R. James (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 cit ...

(1905–1918), and of Eton College (1918–1936). He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1913–15). *

Walter George Headlam Walter George Headlam (15 February 1866 – 20 June 1908) was 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." Early y ...

(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 (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 tropi ...

(1872–1904), British zoologist and embryologist. *

Sir Walter Morley Fletcher Sir Walter Morley Fletcher, (21 July 1873 – 7 June 1933)- was a British physiologist and administrator. Fletcher graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded ...

(1873–1933), Fellow of

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

, 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 St ...

. *

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 hav ...

, ornithologist and expert on the birds of the Caribbean. He was the sole American member of the Pitt Club. *

James Hamilton Doggart James Hamilton Doggart (22 January 1900 – 15 October 1989) was a leading ophthalmologist, lecturer, writer, cricketer, and a member of the Cambridge Apostles and the Bloomsbury Group. Early life Doggart was born exactly one year before the ...

(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 ...

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. * 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 movement ...

(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 (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 ...

(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 (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 (1823–1906), British Liberal Party politician and railway commissioner. * William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter (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 son ...

(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 having ...

(1854–1932), British Liberal politician. * Alfred Lyttelton (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 (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 Col ...

(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 e ...

(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), 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 th ...

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 Wod ...

(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 E ...

, 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 her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

. *

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 Sc ...

(1905–1992), Member of Parliament and peer. * James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster (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 Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (sc ...

he was Inter-Public Schools Athletics Champion for the 880 yards (1929). * George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe (1918–2007), British politician, diplomat, businessman and the commander of the Special Boat Service in WW2. * Kwasi Kwarteng, (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 HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Ch ...

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 fou ...

. *

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 and as host of the BBC TV game show Pointless. *

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 (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 in Berkshire, the fifth child of the headm ...

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

George William Lyttelton 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, and an avid spo ...

(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 George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman JP (21 August 1823 – 25 November 1895) was a Church of England clergyman and antiquary, the second son of George Bridgeman, 2nd Earl of Bradford. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambri ...

(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 president ...

(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 Ma ...

and President of the University Pitt Club. *

Edward Lyttelton Edward Lyttelton (23 July 1855 – 26 January 1942) was an English schoolmaster, cleric and sportsman from the Lyttelton family who was headmaster of Eton College from 1905 to 1916. During his early years he played first-class cricket for Cambr ...

(1855–1942), English sportsman, schoolmaster and cleric. Headmaster of

Eton College Eton College () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI of England, Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. i ...

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

(1910–1925). * Alfred Newman Gilbey (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 The Reverend Honourable Francis Sylvester Grimston (born 8 December 1822 at Gorhambury, Hertfordshire; died 28 October 1865 at Wakes-Colne, Essex) was an English amateur cricketer. Career Francis Grimston was educated at Harrow and Magdalene C ...

(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 primaril ...

. *

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 (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 pow ...

. *

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 ...

(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 Edin ...

(1863–1942), British rower. * Stanley Muttlebury (1866–1933), 'The Mighty Muttle', English rower notable in the annals of rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. *

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(1869–1951), British archer who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics. *

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(1876–1956), English rower and soldier. *

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(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. *

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(1882–1964), British Olympic rower. *

Ronald Powell (rower) Ronald Vanneck Powell (6 May 1884 – 12 February 1930) was an English rower who twice won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta. Powell was born at Hornsey, the son of Rev. Robert Walter Powell, and his wife Mary Caroline Hankey. He was educa ...

(1884–1930), English rower. *

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(1888–1915), British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, killed in action in the First World War. * Harold Abrahams (1899–1978), Olympic track and field champion immortalized in the film '' Chariots of Fire''. *

Robert Morrison (rower) Robert Erskine Morrison (26 March 1902 – 19 February 1980) was a British rower who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Morrison was born at Richmond on Thames, and he was educated at Eton College and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where ...

(1902–1980), British Olympic rower. * David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter (1905–1981), Olympic gold-medalist on whom the character Lord Lindsay in '' Chariots of Fire'' is based. *

Michael Warriner Michael Henry Warriner (3 December 1908 – 7 April 1986) was an English rower who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics representing Great Britain. Warriner was born at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He was educated at Harrow School and ...

(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 (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 Ro ...

(1823–1892), British peer and noted Roman Catholic convert. *

Arthur Murray Goodhart Arthur Murray Goodhart (christened 25 July 1866 – 1941) was a British composer and organist. Goodhart was born in Wimbledon, Surrey, England in 1866 to Eleanor and Charles Woide Goodhart. He was educated at Eton College and then King's Colle ...

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, Conductor of the Concerts of the

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. * Charles Grey, 5th Earl Grey (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 an ...

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

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and the

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. *

Evelyn de Rothschild Sir Evelyn Robert Adrian de Rothschild (29 August 1931 – 7 November 2022) was a British financier and a member of the Rothschild family. Early life Evelyn de Rothschild was born on 29 August 1931. The son of Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1 ...

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and soldier. *

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(1900–1994), Chairman of the

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and the South Bank Theatre Board. *

Edric Hamilton-Russell Edric Claud Hamilton-Russell (24 November 1904 – 1984) was a British rower and mining engineer who was director of pre-nationalisation collieries. Hamilton-Russell was the son of Hon. Claud Eustace Hamilton-Russell and Maria Lindsay Wood. He w ...

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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 Cambridge Five. *

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(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

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. * Rupert Goodman (1963–), British publisher, international affairs expert and entrepreneur. * Harry Primrose, Lord Dalmeny (1967–), British aristocrat and the Chairman of

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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