Who was Thomas Linacre and why is College named after him?
Today, 20th October, marks the 494th anniversary of Thomas Linacre’s death. Linacre (c. 1460-1524) was a prominent Renaissance figure. He was a distinguished humanist, medical scientist, and classicist whose accomplishments established him as one of the great scholars of his time.
A wide range of suggestions, such as “St Aldate’s Hall”, “St Michael’s Hall”, and “Mill Hall”, were considered as potential names at the time, but after a suggestion from Dame Lucy Sutherland (Principal of Lady Margaret Hall), it was finally agreed to call it “Linacre House”. The breath of learning represented by Linacre and his multi-disciplinary purpose and ideals made him the perfect person to name the College after, and this wide array of disciplines is something we continue to benefit from to this day.
