Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870-1950) became Chancellor of Cambridge at the end of his life, but originally came to Christ's College in the 1890s thanks to an Ebden scholarship.

Taking both parts of the Law Tripos in one year, he was placed first in the first class of each part, and went on to become the dominant figure in South African politics and a great influence in World affairs for nearly half a century co-funding both the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

A fund set up in 1953 in his memory led to the establishment of what is now the Smuts Professorship of Commonwealth History. The chair has been held by a list of distinguished academics. A fund set up in 1953 in his memory led to the establishment of what is now the Smuts Professorship of Commonwealth History. The chair has been held by a list of distinguished academics.

The Smuts Memorial Fund provides grants for PhD students at Cambridge in support of fieldwork on Commonwealth issues, gives grants to Faculty and Departmental libraries and holds a Commonwealth lecture series.

There are also Smuts postdoctoral fellowships, one in the Centre of African Studies and one in the Centre of South Asian Studies.

Further information

For further information about the Smuts Fund and to apply for grants please contact:
Secretary of the Board of Managers of the Smuts Memorial Fund,
17 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB21RX
www.smutsfund.cam.ac.uk