Maxwell Irvine | |
|---|---|
| Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham | |
| In office 1996–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Michael Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Sir Michael Sterling |
| Principal of the University of Aberdeen | |
| In office 1991–1996 | |
| Preceded by | George Paul McNicol |
| Succeeded by | Sir Duncan Rice |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 February 1939 Morningside, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 24 March 2012 (aged 73) Coniston, Cumbria, England |
| Spouse |
Grace Ritchie (m. 1962) |
| Education | George Heriot's School |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh (MA) University of Michigan (MSc) University of Manchester (PhD) |
| Profession | Theoretical physicist, university administrator |
John Maxwell Irvine (28 February 1939 – 24 March 2012) was a British theoretical physicist and university administrator, who served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the Aberdeen.[1]
Maxwell Irvine became Professor of Theoretical Physics at Manchester University in 1983 and Dean of Science at Manchester in 1989. Irvine was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen from 1991 to 1996. He was Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham University from 1996 to 2001. Irvine served as chairman of the nuclear physics committee of the Science Research Council and vice-president of the Institute of Physics. He was a director of the Public Health Laboratory Service. During the 1997 general election campaign, while he was Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham University, Irvine introduced Tony Blair before his keynote "education, education, education" speech.[2] However three years later Irvine published an open letter to Prime Minister Blair, criticising the government's policies towards universities.[2] Irvine married Grace Ritchie in 1962 and had a son. His hobby was hill-walking.[1]