University College London UCL as alumni, faculty or researchers. UCL was founded on 11 February 1826 under the name London University, as an alternative to the Anglican universities of Oxford and Cambridge. London University's first Warden was Leonard Horner, who was the first scientist to head a British university. Despite the commonly held belief that the philosopher Jeremy Bentham was the founder of UCL, his direct involvement was limited to the purchase of share No. 633, at a cost of £100 paid in nine instalments between December 1826 and January 1830. In 1828 he did nominate a friend to sit on the council,
University College London Boat Club the Tideway Head, reaching the best position since 1953 despite competing against stronger opposition. In 1975 having already beaten Leander Club a University College London eight went on to set a new Fawley Record of 3 min 18 sec against Potomac Boat Club of the United States in the semi-final of the Wyfold Cup. Despite ultimately winning, Potomac went on to lose the final. In 1977, UCL's first and second eights finished 15th and 13th respectively in the Tideway Head; the club then went on to enter three crews in the 1978 Henley Royal Regatta. These were all significant achievements