Our partnerships through history

The University’s relationship with the United States dates back to the 1700s, but continues to strengthen through ongoing collaborations and partnerships.

A timeline of our shared history

Our historic links are the foundation of a relationship that continues to evolve through modern research partnerships and study exchange. For 250 years, Edinburgh and the United States have shared success through:

  • joint research and funding
  • links to alumni
  • honorary graduates
  • UK and US leaders.

Explore the timeline below to see our collaborative achievements.

Year/sEventSource
1730s to 1740sJohn Witherspoon is educated at the University of Edinburgh. He later emigrates to the American colonies, becomes President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1768, and is a signer of the US 1776 Declaration of Independence. Encyclopaedia Britannica (John Witherspoon)
1761William Shippen Jr. earns his MD at the University of Edinburgh. In 1765 he co-founds the first medical school in the American colonies at the College of Philadelphia (now the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania). Encyclopaedia Britannica (William Shippen, Jr.)
1783John Morgan earns his MD at the University of Edinburgh. In 1765 he co-founds the College of Philadelphia medical school and becomes its first professor of medicine. Encyclopaedia Britannica (John Morgan)
1765Samuel Bard earns his MD at the University of Edinburgh. In 1767 he helps establish the medical faculty at King’s College (now Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons).Encyclopaedia Britannica (Samuel Bard)
1768Benjamin Rush earns his MD at the University of Edinburgh. In 1776 he signs the US Declaration of Independence and becomes a leading American physician. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Benjamin Rush)
1790 to 1791David Hosack studies medicine at the University of Edinburgh and later becomes a prominent New York physician, founder of the Elgin Botanic Garden, and is the attending physician at the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804.Encyclopaedia Britannica (David Hosack)

Year/sEventSource
1823Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies is founded by William Dick, whose future alumni and science later shaped veterinary education internationally and in the US. 
1854James Law is trained at the Edinburgh Veterinary College, and in 1868 is appointed as the first Professor and Dean of Veterinary Medicine at a US university at Cornell University. In 1894, Cornell formally establishes its College of Veterinary Medicine, building on the foundations laid by Professor James Law. 
1864Alexander Graham Bell matriculates at the University of Edinburgh. He later emigrates to North America and, in 1876, patents the telephone in the United States. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Alexander Graham Bell)
1868Cornell University recruits Edinburgh-trained veterinarian James Law to launch veterinary instruction. This becomes the foundation of Cornell’s veterinary program. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – Our History
1894Cornell formally establishes the College of Veterinary Medicine and Edinburgh graduate James Law serves as its first dean.Source: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – Our History

Year/sEventSource
1901Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie establishes the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, which has supported the University of Edinburgh and other Scottish universities for over a century. Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland Admission
1944 to 1945Rockefeller Foundation annual reports record direct grants to the University of Edinburgh for medical research. 
1950Martin Luther King applies and receives offer of admission to Edinburgh Student Exchange. 
1965University of California (UC) Education Abroad Program launches. Since its inception, 1,400 UC students have studied abroad at Edinburgh and approximately 350 students have studied in California as part of the reciprocal exchange. 
1971Astronaut and first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong is awarded an honorary degree from University of Edinburgh for contributions to science and engineering. 
1975University of Pennsylvania student exchange agreement launches. 
1996 to 1997The Roslin Institute clones Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, transforming biotechnology worldwide, including in the US. From 1997 onward, Dolly catalyses major US debate and policy attention on cloning and related biomedical ethics. 
1997US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visits Edinburgh with a lecture on international relations and diplomacy. 

Year/sEvent
2002 onwardThe Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies is awarded unconditional American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation. This accreditation confirms global equivalence of training standards and supports US graduate mobility recruitment and trusted partnerships.
2008 onwardThe University of Edinburgh participates in the Consortium of Universities for Global Health founded with support from the Rockefeller and Gates Foundations, placing the University within US seeded global health networks.
2010 onwardFollowing the establishment of the Graduate Entry Programme, the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine developes US undergraduate articulation pathways including a formal partnership with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
2011Actor James Earl Jones is awarded an honorary degree for his contributions to film, theatre and television.
2011Former US Vice President Al Gore visits the University to discuss climate change and sustainable practices.
2013American Nobel Prize-winner Harold Varmus is awarded an honorary degree for his studies of the genetic basis of cancer.
2014Briana Pegado is elected as the first US President of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association.
2014The Roslin Institute received a Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant.
2014North American University of Edinburgh office opens in New York City.
2015Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, visits the University to discuss space research collaboration.
2017The University receives funding from the US National Institute of Health (NIH) for collaboration with Washington State University on evaluating gene and enzyme replacement therapies for Batten disease in CLN1 edited sheep.
2017Academy Award-winning US film director Oliver Stone receives an honory degree from the University.  
2018Former US Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visits the University to discuss democracy, human rights and education, and is awarded an honorary doctorate for her contributions to politics and public service.
2018Tech innovator and philanthropist Bill Gates visits the Easter Bush campus to engage with livestock research.
2019US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is awarded an honorary degree for her work toward gender equality and justice.
2019 onwardEmerita Professor Pat Conrad of University of California Davis chairs the Global Agriculture and Food Systems Strategic Advisory Group.
2019 onwardThe University begins collaboration with Johnson and Johnson Enterprise Innovation on using ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma to evaluate lung cancer therapies and sensor technologies.
2021Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi visits the University, emphasising political and educational ties.
2021The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies sponsors a student to attend the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy founded at Texas A and M University.
2023Dr Peter R. Beaumont (vet, entrepreneur, and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies alumnus) gifts US $1 million to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
2023 onwardGlobal Agriculture and Food Systems is granted funding through research collaboration between Edinburgh and Cornell university related to pastoralism and risk in East Africa.
2024 onwardSeed grant funding is given to Edinburgh and Cornell University to support research in regional agroecological grain networks in Scotland and New York.
2025Cornell University is listed as a University of Edinburgh strategic partner.
2025A US $9 million Gates Foundation grant is awarded to SEBI Livestock hosted at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
2025The University collaborates with the 'A World of Good' initiative on research and capacity development to advance animal welfare internationally.
2025 onwardOngoing collaboration begins with Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy Project).

Race Review

The University’s Race Review was published in 2025. It outlines the University’s reparatory actions and long-term commitments to learn from and repair its past and its present, in order to shape its future. A few notable people in this timeline have links to slavery or colonialism. They are mentioned here for completeness in understanding the historical links between Edinburgh and the USA.


  • Neil Armstrong in ceremonial robes bring handed a degree in a red tube.
  • A piece of paper on a table, with text demonstrating that it's a University of Edinburgh honorary degree for Neil Armstrong..
  • A student, Briana Pegado, smiling while holding books and a laptop.
  • Seven people standing in a robotics lab, smiling with a humanoid robot.
  • Bill Nelson smiling and talking to a group. Other people in professional attire can be seen in the background.

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