Professor Sir Gabriel Horn (1927-2012)

The College is saddened to report the death of former Master Professor Sir Gabriel Horn.

Professor Sir Gabriel Horn MD, ScD, FRS, FRCP served as Master of Sidney Sussex College between 1992 and 1999. A former head of the Department of Zoology and Fellow of King's College between 1962-74 and 1978-92, he was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal in 2001 and in 2002 was knighted “for services to Neurobiology and to the Advancement of Scientific Research”.

Professor Horn worked as Master to increase the size and diversity of our Fellowship and the quality of the College's facilities. In March 1996 he welcomed HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to the College in March 1996 to the unveiling of the foundation stone of the William Mong Hall, the first ever visit by a reigning British monarch.  The building was opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1999, Professor Horn’s retirement year.

The College would like to offer its thoughts and support to Professor Horn's widow Prill and their family. Acting Master Professor Richard Penty said, ‘Gabriel was an extremely distinguished scientist, a highly respected former Master of Sidney, but perhaps most importantly a warm-hearted human being, much loved by all who knew him. He was still playing an active and important part in the life of Sidney and the Sub-Department of Animal Behaviour and will be greatly missed by the whole College community’.

A collection has been started in Professor Horn's memory. The money raised will go to support the education of undergraduates at Sidney Sussex College, a cause that was very close to his heart.  If you wish to make a donation, please send a cheque made payable to Sidney Sussex College to the Development and Membership Office, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, CB2 3HU, with a note to indicate that it is in memory of Professor Horn.

Details of arrangements for a memorial event to celebrate Gabriel's life and work will be published on the College website as soon as they are known.

In 2007 Professor Horn was interviewed about his life and work by Sir Patrick Bateson.  You can watch the interview, which was filmed by Professor Alan Macfarlane of King’s College, and read an edited transcript by following the link to the University website.

This is an archived news story, first posted in 2012.