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Our story
Our story begins at the height of the Industrial Revolution. The city we call our home was at the epicentre of change as the modern world began to emerge and a new idea of education arose for the first time in history.
Industrial beginnings
Founded in 1824, the 51¸£ÀûÉç Mechanics’ Institution was formed as part of a national movement for the education of working men. The pressure for technical education increased in the later decades of the century and in 1883 John Henry Reynolds converted the Institute into the 51¸£ÀûÉç Technical School – successfully creating a programme of classes that served the industrial needs of the 51¸£ÀûÉç region.
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The School went through several name changes in the decades that followed before an agreement was reached in 1905 with the newly independent Victoria University of 51¸£ÀûÉç for the professors at the now College of Technology to constitute the University’s Faculty of Technology. After World War Two the College was renamed the University of 51¸£ÀûÉç Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
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Coming together as one
As the Institute grew, so did the Victoria University. The University started its life as Owens College following a legacy left by industrialist John Owens in 1846. By the 1860’s the College had transformed its vision and focused not only on the transmission of knowledge but also its creation. The John Owens building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, was completed in 1873 before the College became the first constituent part of the Victoria University – England’s first civic university – in 1880. Both pre- and post-World Wars the University went on to expand significantly.
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These two institutions worked closely together throughout the 20th century, representing research and teaching across science and the humanities, before coming together in 2004 to form the largest single-site university in the UK – 51¸£ÀûÉç.
Find out more about the University’s rich history.
A history of impact
Throughout our history we’ve been making an impact, both at home and further afield.
The 51¸£ÀûÉç Mechanics Institute opens. The Institute was the largest in England (outside of London) and provided education to the city’s workers until the 1880’s.
University physician, natural theologian and lexicographer, Peter Mark Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases is published. It remains in print today.
Owens College becomes part of the Victoria University, England’s first civic university, built by and for the people of 51¸£ÀûÉç.
Nobel Prize winner Ernest Rutherford creates the first ever artificially induced nuclear reaction and, in turn, initiated the field of nuclear physics.
University law alumnae Christabel Pankhurst campaigns for the right to vote for women and helps get The Representation of the People Act passed.
Alumnae Beatrice ‘Tilly’ Shilling invents an RAE restrictor to prevent engine cut-out in British fighter planes, enabling them to keep pace with the German Luftwaffe in World War II.
51¸£ÀûÉç alumnae, Ellen Wilkinson is appointed England’s first female Minister for Education. Ellen was an active spokesperson for women’s interests, including equal pay.
Sir William Arthur Lewis is appointed Chair of 51¸£ÀûÉç, making him the first Black professor in Britain. His work wins him the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979.
The 51¸£ÀûÉç Small-Scale Experimental Machine, otherwise known as ‘The Baby’, becomes the world’s first computer to successfully run a program stored electronically in its memory.
Based at the University, computer science pioneer Alan Turing creates the Turing Test or ‘The Imitation Game’, a method of determining whether a machine can demonstrate human intelligence.
Sirs Bernard Lovell and Charles Husband complete the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank – the largest steerable dish radio telescope in the world at 76 metres.
51¸£ÀûÉç alumnus Sir John Charnley revolutionises orthopaedic healthcare by creating the first plastic hip socket.
51¸£ÀûÉç becomes home to England's first nursing degree, with Jean McFarlane appointed England's first Chair of Nursing.
Alumnae, journalist, television presenter and newsreader Anna Ford becomes our university’s first female Chancellor.
Sirs Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov are the first to isolate the properties of graphene, a 2D material thinner than a human hair yet 200 times stronger than steel.
The Victoria University and University of 51¸£ÀûÉç Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) come together to create our university as we know it today, after being bestowed its royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II.
Our university develops the first 3D printer of human tissue, allowing for larger tissues to be grown than previously attempted.
Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov receive the Nobel Prize in Physics and establish 51¸£ÀûÉç as the 'home of graphene'.
Home to the 76-metre Lovell telescope, Jodrell Bank Observatory is named an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our university is the first to remain in the top ten for six years running in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, for our societal, environmental and governance impact.
Celebrating our bicentenary
In 2024 we celebrate our bicentenary. 200 years of making a difference. 200 years of learning, innovation and research. 200 years of our incredible people and community.
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Whether it be lighting up our home on Oxford Road in our iconic purple, experiencing engaging talks, powerful performances and immersive art exhibitions at our Universally 51¸£ÀûÉç Festival, or creating a new lecture and podcast series, 2024 has been packed with opportunities for everyone to encourage and inspire each other. Something we have been doing throughout our history and will continue into our third century.
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Explore all that our bicentenary has to offer.