Regius Professor of Hebrew (Cambridge)

The Regius Professorship of Hebrew in the University of Cambridge is an ancient academic chair at the University of Cambridge founded by King Henry VIII in 1540.^[1] The holder of the chair is the senior academic in Hebrew and Semitics at Cambridge. According to the Royal family, the title of Regius Professor is "a rare honour, designed to reflect an exceptionally high standard of teaching and research at an institution."^[2] Although some Regius Professors (Civil Law, Physic, and Modern History) are appointed by the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister,^[3] this is no longer true for the Professor of Hebrew.

Among the holdings at Cambridge relevant to study of Hebrew are the Cairo Genizah, the Cambridge manuscript of the Mishnah,^[4] and hundreds of rare books and manuscripts in the University Library^[5] and the libraries of the various Colleges.

When created, the professorship carried a permanent stipend of £40 per year. In 1840 this was increased, with a canonry of Ely Cathedral being attached to the post in perpetuity.^[6][7] In the twenty-first century, however, the Regius Professor has not been in holy orders, and so the position is not associated with the Church.