The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom they are elected.
The current Chancellor is Dame Katherine Grainger, the first woman to hold the office.
This trend ceased with the appointment of the Duke of Hamilton as Chancellor in 1642, although resumed from 1661 to 1692 for a subsequent run of seven archbishops, from Andrew Fairfoul to John Paterson.
Five of the eight Chancellors in the past hundred years have been alumni of the University.
Sir William Kerr Fraser had also been Principal prior to his appointment and, other than the most recent two chancellors, is the only holder in the past hundred years not to have died in office.