Esquire Bedell

1815 engraving (from Rudolf Ackermann's History of the University of Cambridge) of an Esquire Bedell (left) and a Yeoman Bedell (right).

An Esquire Bedell is a junior ceremonial officer of a university, usually with official duties relating to the conduct of ceremonies for the conferment of degrees. The word is closely related to the archaic Bedel and modern English Beadle. The term is primarily associated with universities in the United Kingdom

The term is also used in Australia. Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of New England, and the Australian National University, among others, all hold the position of Esquire Bedel.

Further reading

• "Esquire Bedell", Cambridge University
• "Bedells", Janus, Cambridge University
• Image of the academic dress of the Esquire Bedell, University of Southampton