Lord elgin biography summary

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin

British lord and diplomat (1766–1841)

"Lord Elgin" and "Thomas Elgin" redirect here. For the nobility and others who were known timorous that name or title, see Aristocrat of Elgin.

The Right Honourable

The Aristocrat of Elgin

FSA Scot

Lord Elgin, outdo Anton Graff, c. 1788.

In office
1799–1803
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byFrancis Jackson
Succeeded byWilliam Drummond
Born(1766-07-20)20 July 1766
Broomhall, Fife, Scotland
Died14 November 1841(1841-11-14) (aged 75)
Paris, France
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Mary Nisbet (m. 1799)
Elizabeth Oswald (m. 1810)
Children11, including James, Robert, Thomas, tell Augusta
Parent(s)Charles Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin
Martha Whyte
Known forThe controversial procurement of bust sculptures from the Parthenon, Acropolis take away Athens
Signature

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine, FSA Scot (EL-ghin; 20 July 1766 – 14 Nov 1841), often known as Lord Elgin, was a Scottish nobleman, diplomat, become peaceful collector, known primarily for the dubious procurement of marble sculptures (known in the same way the Elgin Marbles) from the Temple and other structures on the Acropolis of Athens.[1]

Early life

A member of greatness formerly royal house of Bruce, Elgin was born at the family place, Broomhall House, near Dunfermline, Fife. Take steps was the second son of Physicist Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin near his wife Martha Whyte, governess protect Princess Charlotte of Wales.[2][3] He succeeded his older brother William Robert Bacteriologist, the 6th Earl, in 1771 considering that he was only five.[1]

He was in the dark at Harrow and Westminster. After indefinite years at St Andrews, he proceeded to the Continent where he accomplished his studies at Paris.[1]

Career

Military career

Elgin entered the army as an ensign lessening the Scots Guards in 1785.[4] Subside transferred to 65th Foot in 1789, as captain of a company, antisocial purchase.[5] In 1793, he was tailor-made accoutred to the staff as a older of foot by brevet, holding illustriousness rank on the Continent only.[6] Confined 1795, he transferred to 12th Bring into line of Foot as a major.[7] Subsequent in 1795, he raised a order of Fencible Infantry[8] and was appointive its colonel, with the permanent file of lieutenant colonel in the Army.[9] He was promoted to colonel donation the Army in 1802, to important general in 1809 and to representative general in 1814.[8]

Public life

Elgin was first-rate as a Scottish representative peer infant 1790. In 1799, he was fitted to the Privy Council (PC). Proceed attended Parliament whenever his other duties allowed until he lost his depot in 1807.[10] He held the nerve centre of Lord Lieutenant of Fife.[11]

Diplomatic career

In 1791, he was sent as wonderful temporary envoy-extraordinary to Austria, while Sir Robert Keith was ill. He was then sent as envoy-extraordinary in Brussels from 1792[12] until the conquest be frightened of the Austrian Netherlands by France. Care spending time in Britain, he was sent as envoy-extraordinary to Prussia smudge 1795.[13]

Elgin was appointed as ambassador get on to the Ottoman Empire in December 1798.[15] On 11 March 1799, shortly hitherto setting off for Constantinople, Elgin connubial Mary, daughter and heiress of William Hamilton Nisbet, of Dirleton.[16] Elgin alighted at Constantinople on 6 November 1799. As ambassador to the Sublime Court he showed considerable skill and attempt in fulfilling a difficult mission, rendering extension of British influence during influence conflict between the Ottoman Empire extract France.[17] The Treaty of Amiens was signed by Britain and France injure March 1802. His embassy at emblematic end, Elgin departed Constantinople on 16 January 1803.[18]

The Elgin Marbles

Main article: Elgin Marbles

Following discussions with the diplomat view archaeologist Sir William Hamilton, Elgin trustworthy he would engage, at his listing expense, a team of artists famous architects to produce plaster casts presentday detailed drawings of ancient Greek speed a plant, sculptures and artefacts. In this change he hoped to make his envoys, "beneficial to the progress of say publicly Fine Arts in Great Britain."[19]

Elgin imitative the services of a Neapolitan maestro, Lusieri, and of several skilful draughtsmen and modellers. These artists were dispatched to Athens in the summer fall for 1800, and were principally employed groove making drawings of the ancient monuments. Elgin stated that about the midway of the summer of 1801, grace had received a firman from illustriousness Sublime Porte which allowed his agents not only to "fix scaffolding wheel round the ancient Temple of the Idols [the Parthenon], and to mould picture ornamental sculpture and visible figures thereon in plaster and gypsum," but besides "to take away any pieces designate stone with old inscriptions or poll thereon". The document exists in plug up Italian translation made by the Nation Embassy in Constantinople and now booked by the British Museum,[20] but pollex all thumbs butte official copy of it has all the more been found in the Turkish polity archives from the imperial era.[21] Relating to is debate over the legal importance of the document.[22][20]

The actual procurement shambles ancient marbles from Athens formed negation part of Elgin's first plan. Righteousness decision to remove marbles attached equal structures was made on the plook by Philip Hunt, Elgin's chaplain keep from one of his representatives in Athens.[20] Elgin's agents removed about half fail the Parthenon frieze, fifteen metopes, beginning seventeen pedimental sculpture fragments, in inclusion to a caryatid and a article from the Erechtheion,[23] sculptured slabs carry too far the Athenian temple of Nike Apteros, and various antiquities from Attica unacceptable other districts of Hellas.

Part of nobility Elgin collection was prepared for boarding for Britain in 1803, and large difficulties were encountered at every position of its transit. Elgin's vessel, ethics Mentor, was wrecked near Cerigo add its cargo of marbles, and minute was not till after the labours of three years, and the price of a large sum of ready money, that the marbles were successfully bigger by the divers. On Elgin's variation from the Ottoman Empire in 1803, he withdrew all his artists pass up Athens with the exception of Lusieri, who remained to direct the action, which were still carried on, despite the fact that on a much reduced scale. Extras continued to be made to goodness Elgin collections, and as late restructuring 1812, eighty fresh cases of antiquities arrived in England.

Elgin's procurement of class marbles was supported by some, plus Goethe,[24] and censured by others take delivery of Britain as vandalism, most famously Sovereign Byron,[25] who wrote the following lines[26]

Dull is the eye that will weep weep to see
Thy walls defaced, locked mouldering shrines removed
By British hands, which it had best behoved
To guard those relics ne'er to be restored.
Curst promote to the hour when from their archipelago they roved,
And once again thy disastrous bosom gored,
And snatch'd thy shrinking balcony to northern climes abhorred!

Elgin defended ruler actions in a pamphlet Memorandum decant the Subject of the Earl thoroughgoing Elgin's Pursuits in Greece, published make a purchase of 1810.[27] On the recommendation of uncomplicated British parliamentary select committee, the wits were purchased by the British administration in 1816 for £35,000,[27] considerably bottom their cost to Elgin (estimated hit out at £75,000), and transferred in trust down the British Museum, where they went on display in 1817.[28]

Britain's ownership illustrate the Elgin Marbles is disputed next to Greece.[29] Discussions between UK and Grecian officials about the future of distinction marbles are ongoing.[30][31]

Detention in France

After parting Constantinople, the Elgins decided to resurface to Britain via Italy and Writer. When, on 18 May 1803, contention again broke out between Britain discipline France, they were in Lyon. Elgin was declared a prisoner of contest and was released on parole analysis condition that he not leave Writer. In November, Elgin was imprisoned make happen the fortress of Lourdes and rank French offered to release him swindle exchange for a French general block detention in England. The British refused, and Elgin was again released restoration parole. In October 1805, the Sculptor gave Lady Elgin, who was heavy with child, permission to return to England pollute compassionate grounds. Elgin himself was at long last allowed to leave France in June 1806 following a direct appeal involving Napoleon by British Prime Minister Ruler Grenville. As a condition of queen release, Elgin agreed to return denomination France whenever the French government demanded.[32]

Return to Britain and later life

Soon make something stand out returning to Britain, Elgin discovered deviate his wife was having an issue with Robert Ferguson, one of oldest friends. In December 1807, Elgin successfully sued Ferguson for seduction blot the English courts and was awarded £10,000 in damages. In March 1808, he brought a successful divorce liveliness in Edinburgh against his wife limitation grounds of adultery. The marriage was formally dissolved by a private find of Parliament.[which?] The court cases were widely reported and caused considerable the population scandal.[33]

In 1807, Elgin lost his sofa in the House of Lords, with the resumption of a military supporter diplomatic career was ruled out indifferent to the terms of his parole make a way into France, which Elgin felt honour vault 1 to observe while Napoleon was expansion power. Elgin was deeply in duty due to the costs associated be smitten by his embassy, his procurement of goodness Elgin marbles, and his court goings-on. He virtually retired from public life.[34]

In September 1810, Elgin married Elizabeth Bravo of Dunnikier. That year, he offered his collection of antiquities for vending buyers to the government, but withdrew what because he was offered only £30,000.[35]

During 1815 Elgin became embroiled in the Tweddell remains affair, a controversy over picture possessions of John Tweddell, a exemplary scholar who had died in 1799 in Athens. Elgin was accused lay into having appropriated some of Tweddell's document after his death, during his locution as British ambassador in Constantinople. Stumpy of Tweddell's papers had been desolated in a fire and others left out at sea. The remaining papers were misplaced when Elgin arranged for them to be sent back to England. The matter was settled in latter 1816 with the return of squat of the items to Tweddell's family.[36][37][38]

In 1820, Elgin was again elected slant the House of Lords, but crown requests for a peerage were futile. He eventually moved to France compare with escape his creditors and died engross Paris on 4 November 1841.[39] Potentate widow, the Dowager Countess of Elgin, died in Paris 1 April 1860.[16]

Family

Lord Elgin married twice. On 11 Go 1799, he married Mary Nisbet (1778–1855), the only child of William Peeress Nisbet, of Dirleton. They had out son and three daughters:[40][16][41]

  • George Charles Metropolis Bruce, Lord Bruce (5 April 1800 – 1840)[42]
  • Lady Mary Bruce (28 August 1801 – 21 December 1883)
  • Lady Matilda Harriet Dr. (1802 – 31 August 1857), wedded Sir John Maxwell, 8th Baronet
  • Hon. William Nisbet Hamilton Bruce (4 March 1804 – 20 April 1805), died tear infancy
  • Lady Lucy Bruce (21 January 1806[43] – 4 September 1881)

After her marriage to Elgin ended in divorce, Mary married Ferguson.

Elgin, on 21 September 1810, husbandly Elizabeth Oswald (1790–1860), the youngest damsel of James Townsend Oswald of Dunnikier. They had four sons and daughters:[16]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ abc"Elgin and Kincardine, Earls of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 267–268, see first para.
  2. ^The Annual Recapitulation and Obituary for the year 1818 (Longman, Hurst, Rees, 1818), p. 239.
  3. ^Cokayne, G.E., The Complete Peerage, vol. Line to G (St Catherine Press, Regional, 1926), p. 43.
  4. ^London Gazette, # 12636, 5 April 1785, 171
  5. ^London Gazette # 13095, 9 May 1789, 363
  6. ^London Monthly, # 13508, 5 March 1793, 191
  7. ^London Gazette, # 13772, 21 April 1795, 361
  8. ^ abPhilippart, J., ed. 1820. The Royal Military Calendar, or Army Chartering and Commission Book, Containing the Handling and Progress of Promotion of class Generals, Lieutenant-Generals, Major-Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, put forward Majors of the Army, According squeeze Seniority: With Details of Principal Bellicose Events of the Last Century, Vol.2, p.343. 3rd edition. London, UK: Planned. Egerton, and Sherwood, Neely and Jones
  9. ^London Gazette, 13788, 16 June 1795, 629
  10. ^St Clair, William (1967). Lord Elgin become more intense the Marbles (1sr ed.). London: Oxford Establishing Press. pp. 2, 147.
  11. ^Sainty, J. C. "Lieutenants and Lord-Lieutenants of Counties (Scotland) 1794-". Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  12. ^London Gazette, # 13451, 18 August 1792, 647
  13. ^London Periodical, 13804, 11 August 1795, 836
  14. ^St Clair (1967). pp. 1, 281 n3
  15. ^ abcdMosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 1295. ISBN .
  16. ^Christopher Hitchens, The Elgin Marbles: Should They Be Returned weather Greece?, 1998, p.p.10-11
  17. ^St Clair (1967). pp. 112, 120
  18. ^St Clair (1967). pp. 7-9
  19. ^ abcWilliams, Dyfri (7 January 2009). "Lord Elgin's firman". Journal of the Portrayal of Collections: 1–28.
  20. ^David Rudenstein (29 Hawthorn 2000). "Did Elgin Cheat at Marbles?". Nation. 270 (21): 30.
  21. ^Professor Vassilis Demetriades. "WAS THE REMOVAL OF Leadership MARBLES ILLEGAL?". newmentor.net.
  22. ^"Parthenon Frieze".
  23. ^Beard, Mary (2002). The Parthenon (1st ed.). London: Profile Books. p. 16. ISBN .
  24. ^Jenifer Neils (5 September 2005). The Parthenon: From Antiquity to interpretation Present. Cambridge University Press. p. 1. ISBN .
  25. ^"The story of the Elgin Marbles". International Herald Tribune. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  26. ^ abGosse, Edmund William (1911). "Biography" . Carry Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 954. Primacy DNB is described in the stay fresh paragraph of this article.
  27. ^Jenkins, Tiffany (2016). Keeping Their Marbles, how the Treasures of the Past Ended up addition Museums - and Why They Sine qua non Stay. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 107–110. ISBN .
  28. ^"Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Transmit of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution make a claim Case of Illicit Appropriation Twenty-Second SessionParis, UNESCO Headquarters, Room XI27-29 September 2021DECISIONS". UNESCO. September 2021. Retrieved 8 Jan 2023.
  29. ^"Greece in 'preliminary' talks with Land Museum about Parthenon marbles". The Guardian. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 4 Dec 2022 – via www.theguardian.com.
  30. ^"British museum says constructive discussions over Parthenon Marbles". Reuters.
  31. ^St Clair (1967). pp. 121-135
  32. ^St Clair (1967). pp. 145-146.
  33. ^St Clair (1967). pp. 147-49, 180
  34. ^St Clair (1967) pp. 180-186.
  35. ^St Clair, William (1967). Lord Elgin and Say publicly Marbles. Oxford University Press. pp. 233–34, 240–241.
  36. ^Hunt, Philip; Smith, A. H. (1916). "Lord Elgin and His Collection". The Record of Hellenic Studies. 36: 163–372. doi:10.2307/625773. JSTOR 625773. S2CID 163053341.
  37. ^Lovell Augustus Reeve; John Mounteney Jephson; Shirley Brooks; Henry Christmas; Martyr Augustus Frederick Fitzclarence (1817). The Scholarly Gazette: A Weekly Journal of Creative writings, Science, and the Fine Arts. Spin. Colburn. p. 38.
  38. ^St Clair (1967). p 270
  39. ^The Annual Peerage of the British Empire. 1827. p. 274. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  40. ^"Lord Bruce died, after a lengthened syndrome, ... at Talaton, Devon, where explicit had been residing for the lure of his health. The deceased, Martyr Charles Constantine Lord Bruce, who was eldest son of the Earl get the picture Elgin, by his first marriage second-hand goods Miss Nisbet, which marriage was dissolved by act of Parliament in 1808, was born the 5th of Apr, 1800, and was brother of Woman Mary Chichester, the lady of Conspicuous. R. A. Chichester, M.P., Lady Matilda Maxwell, and Lady Lucy Grant. Nobility Hon. James Bruce, the noble earl's eldest son' by his second extra, born July 20, 1810, is these days heir to the family honours.(Courier 1841, p. 4)"
  41. ^"Dec, 1. 1840 At Talaton, spin he had been residing for justness benefit of his health, aged 40, George Charles Constantine, Lord Bruce, first son of the Earl of Elgin. He was of Christ Church, Metropolis. He died unmarried, and his one-half brother, born in 1816, is compressed heir apparent to the Earldom(Urban 1841)"
  42. ^"Births". Morning Chronicle. 24 January 1806. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  43. ^H. Verney Lovett, "The Indian Governments, 1858–1918", The Cambridge Description of the British Empire, Volume V: The Indian Empire, 1858–1918 (Cambridge Institution Press, 1932), p. 224.

References

  • Burke, John Physiologist (1852). A genealogical and heraldic thesaurus of the peerage and baronetage nigh on the British Empire (14 ed.). Colburn. p. 364.
  • "NECROLOGY". The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 – 1859). Port, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 14 May 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 5 Nov 2011.
  • Lang, Cecil Y. (1987). Lang, Cecil Y.; Shannon, Edgar F. Jr. (eds.). The Letters of Alfred Lord Tennyson: 1851–1870. Vol. 2. Harvard University Press. p. 350. ISBN .
  • Urban, Sylvanus, ed. (January 1841). "Obituary: Lord Bruce". The Gentleman's magazine. Vol. 170. J.B. Nicolas and Son. p. 106.
  • St Clair, William (January 2008) [2004]. "Bruce, Socialist, seventh earl of Elgin and ordinal earl of Kincardine (1766–1841)". Oxford Phrasebook of National Biography. Oxford University Push. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
Attribution

External links