Sir William Robert Grove matriculated at Brasenose on 6 February 1829, aged 17. He gained a degree in Classics and was awarded his B.A. on 15 November 1832 and his M.A. in 1835. A Barrister by training, his research into electrochemistry led to him developing electric batteries such as the Grove cell. His essay On the Correlation of Physical Forces is widely regarded as a precursor to the theory of the conservation of energy.
The Royal Institution hold a collection of Grove's personal papers.