Richard Anthony Cooper Master of St Benet's Hall, Oxford, from September 2018 until September 2022,[1][2][3] is Emeritus Professor of French in the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages at Oxford University.

[6] Educated at Manchester Grammar School, where Donald Adamson introduced him to foreign languages, Cooper went up to New College, Oxford, where he read French and Italian.

[5] He is a member of the Académie des Sciences, Belles Lettres et Arts and of the Institut des Sciences de l'Homme, Lyon.

[5] Professor Cooper was selected as a torchbearer for the 2012 Summer Olympics Torch Relay, reflecting his 40 years of service to sport at the Oxford University, including 15 years as Chairman of the University Sports Committee.

Appointed Officier dans l'ordre des Palmes Académiques in 1996 (promoted Commandeur in 2012),[8] Cooper also became Commendatore dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in 2003.