Maxwell Irvine

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	(1939-02-28)28 February 1939 Morningside, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	24 March 2012(2012-03-24) (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.

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. However three years later Irvine published an open letter to Prime Minister Blair, criticising the government's policies towards universities. Irvine married Grace Ritchie in 1962 and had a son. His hobby was hill-walking.

External links

• The Scotsman Obituary 2012