Newnham Fellow follows in footsteps of Henry Sidgwick and is named as Knightbridge Professor

Professor Rae Langton in Newnham's gardens

Professor Rae Langton has been elected to be the Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy – 134 years after the position was held by Professor Henry Sidgwick, one of the people who founded Newnham College in 1871.

The Knightbridge chair was created in 1683 by John Knightbridge, Fellow of Peterhouse College, Cambridge.

It has been held by many eminent Cambridge philosophers including Henry Sidgwick, but this is the first time the position has been held by a woman.

Professor Langton has previously said that she chose to become a Fellow at Newnham because of its inspiring history including ‘the heroic figure of Henry Sidgwick’.

The lauded philosopher, pictured, works in moral and political philosophy, history of philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of law, speech act theory, and feminist philosophy.

Her election to be the Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy will take effect from August 1 2017.

Read more about her work