Arthur Armitage

Summary

Sir Arthur Llewellyn Armitage (1 August 1916 – 1 February 1984), was a British academic who was the President of Queens' College, Cambridge, from 1958 until 1970, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University between 1965–67 and Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Manchester between 1969 and 1980.

Sir Arthur Llewellyn Armitage
Armitage in June 1958.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
In office
1965–1967
Preceded byJohn Sandwith Boys Smith
Succeeded bySir Eric Ashby
President of Queens' College, Cambridge
In office
1958–1970
Preceded byJohn Archibald Venn
Succeeded bySir Derek Bowett
Personal details
Born
Arthur Llewellyn Armitage

(1916-08-01)1 August 1916
Marsden, West Yorkshire, England
Died1 February 1984(1984-02-01) (aged 67)
Cambridge, England
EducationHulme Grammar School
Alma materQueens' College, Cambridge

Born in Marsden, West Yorkshire, Armitage was educated at Hulme Grammar School and in 1933 went to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he gained a first class degree in Law. After he spent two years at Yale on a Commonwealth Fund Fellowship and was called to the Bar in Inner Temple 1940. He served for five years in the Army during the Second World War, achieving the rank of Major.

He became a Fellow and tutor of the college in 1947. He was elected President of Queens' in 1958 upon the death of John Archibald Venn. In 1969 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Manchester. He later served as Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors.

In his later years, Armitage chaired a series of government committees under James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher, including the Social Security Advisory Committee; the Armitage Committee, set up to review the rules governing the political activities of civil servants; and an independent inquiry into lorries and their effect on people and the environment.

Armitage was President of Cambridge University Cricket Club between 1965 and 1970.[1]

He was knighted in the 1975 New Year Honours List.

References edit

  1. ^ "CUCC Presidents".
  • "Obituaries: Sir Arthur Armitage", The Times (London, England), Monday, Feb 06, 1984; pg. 16
Academic offices
Preceded by President of Queens' College, Cambridge
1958–1970
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
1965–1967
Succeeded by