The Nominative Trustees were provided for in the Trust Deed whereby the three sponsoring colleges were bound for the purpose of founding Darwin College, and comprised two representatives from each of those three colleges, initially: Sir Nevill Mott (Master) and E. P. Weller (Bursar) of Gonville and Caius, the Rev. J. S. Boys Smith (Master) and T. C. Thomas (Bursar) of St John's College and Prof. C. F. A. Pantin and Dr J. R. G. Bradfied (Bursar) of Trinity College. The first chairman was Boys Smith. The Trust was wound up in 1976 when the college attained fully independent status.