Edinburgh Academy - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

See also: Category:People educated at Edinburgh Academy

• Craigie Aitchison painter (EA 1933-7 & 1941-2)
• Frederick M Bailey, celebrated plant collector, discoverer of Mecanopsis baileyi.
• Leslie Balfour-Melville (1854–1937), an outstanding all-round amateur sportsman
• R. M. Ballantyne, children's author, (EA 1835-37).
• Sir George Beilby, FRS. Chemical manufacturer
• Dr Joseph Bell, now recognised as the model for Sherlock Holmes.
• Mike Blair, Scottish Rugby International.
• Ross Rennie Scottish Rugby International
• Guy Berryman, bass player in Coldplay
• Francis Cadell, explorer of the Murray River in Australia.
• Francis 'Bunty' Cadell, colourist painter.
• Nicky Campbell, radio DJ and television presenter, (EA 1966-78).
• Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham, victor of Taranto and Matapan during the Second World War.
• William Cunningham, economist
• Tam Dalyell, former Father of the House of Commons.
• Lord Francis Douglas, with Whymper on the ascent of the Matterhorn, died on the descent.
• Charles Falconer, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Lord Chancellor.
• Alexander Penrose Forbes, who became Bishop of Brechin, (EA 1825-32).
• Sir James Angus Gillan, Olympic oarsman, gold-medallist 1908 and 1912 (EA 1896-1905).
• Iain Glen, actor (EA 1965-78).
• John Scott Haldane, physiologist (EA 1870-76).
• Richard Burdon Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane, Lord Chancellor, 'Father of the Territorial Army' (EA 1866-72).
• Sir James Hector, explorer and member of the Palliser Expedition, (EA 1844-45).
• Fleeming Jenkin, professor of engineering, (EA 1875-81).
• David Jenkins,Olympic Athlete (EA 1958-1969).
• Paul Jones, singer, actor and presenter, (EA 1958-60).
• Nick Keir, Musician (EA 1958-1970).
• James Eckford Lauder, artist of outstanding note who painted James Watt, (EA 1824-8).
• Robert Scott Lauder jnr., M.D.,(Edinburgh), Physician at Morningside Lunatic Asylum, etc., (EA 1852-8)
• Colin John Mackenzie, Major-General and Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army
• Magnús Magnússon, television presenter, and translator of Icelandic origins, (EA 1935-48).
• Sir James Marjoribanks, career diplomat who presented Britain's successful application to join the European Community in 1967
• James Clerk Maxwell, physicist, (EA 1841-47).
• Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic.
• Catherine McQueen, model and TV presenter
• James Reid, politician and Law Lord.
• William Forbes Skene, Scottish historian, (EA 1826-29).
• Sir Ninian Stephen, Governor General of Australia.
• Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth.
• Robert Louis Stevenson, writer, (EA 1861-63).
• J. I. M. Stewart, university professor and mystery writer (as Michael Innes)
• Archibald Campbell Tait, who became Archbishop of Canterbury, (EA 1824-27).
• Frederick Guthrie Tait, son of Peter Guthrie Tait, soldier and gifted amateur golfer, (EA 1881-83).
• Peter Guthrie Tait, physicist, (EA 1841-47).
• Iain Torrance, President of Princeton Theological Seminary, (EA 1954-63).
• D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, mathematical biologist, (EA 1870-77).
• George Younger, 1st Viscount Younger of Leckie, (EA 1864-67).