Harold Macmillan Roy Jenkins The 1987 University of Oxford election for the position of Chancellor was called upon the death of the incumbent Chancellor, Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, on 29 December 1986.

The forthcoming election generated much interest, and several names were raised in the press as potential candidates, including:[1] All of the above had been educated at Oxford, apart from Lords Callaghan and Carrington.

[2] Eventually four candidates were nominated: The election attracted huge levels of publicity, at times likened to a parliamentary by-election.

[3] Much of the attention focused upon the Jenkins and Heath campaigns, whilst Blake was seen as a non-political candidate.

[4] The requirement for those voting to do so in academic dress resulted in the local tailor selling out.