Sir Anthony Kenny, 1931-2026

Image: Nancy Caroline Gayley / CC BY-SA 4.0

Harris Manchester College is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Anthony Kenny, an Honorary Fellow and valued supporter of the College.  

A distinguished philosopher, Sir Anthony published a number of well-known works throughout his career, including Wittgenstein (Penguin Press, 1973), The Oxford History of Western Philosophy (Oxford University Press, 1994), and What I believe (Continuum, 2006). He was also Warden of Rhodes House and Master of Balliol College. 

Sir Anthony had a long association with Harris Manchester, which began when he was appointed the Chair of the College's Advisory Board in the 1980s. He would remain Chair for eight years, helping to oversee the College's entry to the University of Oxford as a full collegiate member in 1996. He subsequently became an Honorary Fellow. 

During that time he worked closely with former Principal Sir Ralph Waller, who commented: "Sir Anthony played a key role in the College obtaining its Royal Charter, and we were very fortunate to have him as Chair of our Advisory Committee at such a formative period of our history. He will be sadly missed."