• • 1881–1922: Thomas W. Rhys Davids (1843–1922)
  • 1922–1942: Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids (1857–1942)
  • 1942–1950: William H. D. Rouse (1863–1950)
  • 1950–1958: William Stede (1882–1958)
  • 1959–1981: Isaline Blew Horner (1896–1981)
  • 1981–1994: Kenneth R. Norman (1925–2020)
  • 1994–2002: Richard Gombrich (1937–)
  • 2002–2003: Lance Cousins (1942–2015)
  • 2003–: Rupert Gethin (1957–)

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge holds archives relating to previous Presidents:

• • T. W. Rhys Davids
  • C. A. F. Rhys Davids
  • I. B. Horner