Cambridge Union Society

Cambridge Union Society

The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Cambridge Union, is the largest student society at the University of Cambridge. Founded on February 13th, 1815 as a union of three debating societies, it is still best known for its debates, but also organises lectures by visiting speakers, film evenings and other social events for its members.

It elects a student as its president every term. Past holders of the post include Sir William Harcourt, John Maynard Keynes, Rab Butler, Douglas Hurd, Leon Brittan, Ken Clarke, Norman Lamont, Michael Howard and Arianna Huffington.

It continues to attract eminent speakers from the UK and across the globe. Previous visitors have included President Reagan, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Clint Eastwood, Gillian Anderson and Bruce Forsyth.

Its current premises were designed by Alfred Waterhouse and formally opened on October 30th, 1866.

The Cambridge Union is often confused with the Cambridge University Students Union, the university-wide representative body for undergraduate students. Despite the Cambridge Union Society never having been a students union in the conventional sense, it did briefly affiliate to the UK's National Union of Students in 1924.

References

Cradock, Percy (1953). Recollections of the Cambridge Union 1815-1939. Cambridge: Bowes & Bowes.

External link

Cambridge Union Society

Presidents of the Cambridge Union Society (1815-2004)