Presentation of:"British museum".
History : 1.Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum. 2.Foundation (1753). 3.Growth and change ( ). 4.New century, new building ( )
Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum Though principally a museum of cultural art objects and antiquities today, the British Museum was founded as a "universal museum". Its foundations lie in the will of the physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753). During the course of his lifetime Sloane gathered an enviable collection of curiosities and, not wishing to see his collection broken up after death, he bequeathed it to King George II, for the nation, for the princely sum of £20,000. Though principally a museum of cultural art objects and antiquities today, the British Museum was founded as a "universal museum". Its foundations lie in the will of the physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753). During the course of his lifetime Sloane gathered an enviable collection of curiosities and, not wishing to see his collection broken up after death, he bequeathed it to King George II, for the nation, for the princely sum of £20,000.
Foundation (1753) On 7 June 1753, King George II gave his formal assent to the Act of Parliament which established the British Museum. On 7 June 1753, King George II gave his formal assent to the Act of Parliament which established the British Museum.
Growth and change ( ) In the early 19th century the foundations for the extensive collection of sculpture began to be laid and Greek, Roman and Egyptian artefacts dominated the antiquities displays. After the defeat of the French Campaign in the Battle of the Nile, in 1801, the British Museum acquired more Egyptian sculpture and in 1802 King George III presented the Rosetta Stone – key to the deciphering of hieroglyphs. In the early 19th century the foundations for the extensive collection of sculpture began to be laid and Greek, Roman and Egyptian artefacts dominated the antiquities displays. After the defeat of the French Campaign in the Battle of the Nile, in 1801, the British Museum acquired more Egyptian sculpture and in 1802 King George III presented the Rosetta Stone – key to the deciphering of hieroglyphs.
New century, new building ( ) By the last years of the nineteenth century, The British Museum's collections had increased so much that the Museum building was no longer big enough for them. All the while, the collections kept growing.