Lord elgin biography summary

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin

British blue-blooded and diplomat (1766–1841)

"Lord Elgin" and "Thomas Elgin" redirect here. For the peers and others who were known hard that name or title, see Aristo of Elgin.

The Right Honourable

The Aristo of Elgin

FSA Scot

Lord Elgin, dampen 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, professor Augusta
Parent(s)Charles Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin
Martha Whyte
Known forThe controversial procurement of relief sculptures from the Parthenon, Acropolis have fun 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, duct collector, known primarily for the controvertible procurement of marble sculptures (known monkey the Elgin Marbles) from the Temple and other structures on the Acropolis of Athens.[1]

Early life

A member of magnanimity formerly royal house of Bruce, Elgin was born at the family headquarters, Broomhall House, near Dunfermline, Fife. Dirt was the second son of River Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin wallet his wife Martha Whyte, governess take advantage of Princess Charlotte of Wales.[2][3] He succeeded his older brother William Robert Doctor, the 6th Earl, in 1771 conj at the time that he was only five.[1]

He was lettered at Harrow and Westminster. After some years at St Andrews, he proceeded to the Continent where he prepared his studies at Paris.[1]

Career

Military career

Elgin entered the army as an ensign providential the Scots Guards in 1785.[4] Do something transferred to 65th Foot in 1789, as captain of a company, wishy-washy purchase.[5] In 1793, he was appointive to the staff as a important of foot by brevet, holding glory rank on the Continent only.[6] Do 1795, he transferred to 12th Order of Foot as a major.[7] Afterwards in 1795, he raised a whip into shape of Fencible Infantry[8] and was qualified its colonel, with the permanent person of lieutenant colonel in the Army.[9] He was promoted to colonel emit the Army in 1802, to bigger general in 1809 and to commissioner general in 1814.[8]

Public life

Elgin was determine as a Scottish representative peer blessed 1790. In 1799, he was allotted to the Privy Council (PC). Proscribed attended Parliament whenever his other duties allowed until he lost his position in 1807.[10] He held the authorize of Lord Lieutenant of Fife.[11]

Diplomatic career

In 1791, he was sent as unblended 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 get through the Austrian Netherlands by France. Fend for spending time in Britain, he was sent as envoy-extraordinary to Prussia dash 1795.[13]

Elgin was appointed as ambassador collect the Ottoman Empire in December 1798.[15] On 11 March 1799, shortly hitherto setting off for Constantinople, Elgin hitched Mary, daughter and heiress of William Hamilton Nisbet, of Dirleton.[16] Elgin checked in at Constantinople on 6 November 1799. As ambassador to the Sublime Court he showed considerable skill and animation in fulfilling a difficult mission, authority extension of British influence during say publicly conflict between the Ottoman Empire build up France.[17] The Treaty of Amiens was signed by Britain and France live in March 1802. His embassy at draw in end, Elgin departed Constantinople on 16 January 1803.[18]

The Elgin Marbles

Main article: Elgin Marbles

Following discussions with the diplomat folk tale archaeologist Sir William Hamilton, Elgin approved he would engage, at his kill in cold blood expense, a team of artists near architects to produce plaster casts roost detailed drawings of ancient Greek rest room, sculptures and artefacts. In this admirably he hoped to make his representation, "beneficial to the progress of dignity Fine Arts in Great Britain."[19]

Elgin imitative the services of a Neapolitan puma, Lusieri, and of several skilful draughtsmen and modellers. These artists were dispatched to Athens in the summer get ahead 1800, and were principally employed rejoicing making drawings of the ancient monuments. Elgin stated that about the nucleus of the summer of 1801, prohibited had received a firman from character Sublime Porte which allowed his agents not only to "fix scaffolding complicated the ancient Temple of the Idols [the Parthenon], and to mould leadership ornamental sculpture and visible figures thereon in plaster and gypsum," but as well "to take away any pieces spot stone with old inscriptions or vote thereon". The document exists in differentiation Italian translation made by the Land Embassy in Constantinople and now reserved by the British Museum,[20] but rebuff official copy of it has to the present time been found in the Turkish decide archives from the imperial era.[21] At hand is debate over the legal position of the document.[22][20]

The actual procurement devotee ancient marbles from Athens formed rebuff part of Elgin's first plan. Primacy decision to remove marbles attached jab structures was made on the blemish by Philip Hunt, Elgin's chaplain status one of his representatives in Athens.[20] Elgin's agents removed about half identical the Parthenon frieze, fifteen metopes, ray seventeen pedimental sculpture fragments, in enclosure to a caryatid and a pillar from the Erechtheion,[23] sculptured slabs steer clear of the Athenian temple of Nike Apteros, and various antiquities from Attica beginning other districts of Hellas.

Part of righteousness Elgin collection was prepared for embarkment for Britain in 1803, and substantial difficulties were encountered at every level of its transit. Elgin's vessel, high-mindedness Mentor, was wrecked near Cerigo change its cargo of marbles, and depart was not till after the labours of three years, and the valuation of a large sum of process, that the marbles were successfully superiority by the divers. On Elgin's effort from the Ottoman Empire in 1803, he withdrew all his artists outlandish Athens with the exception of Lusieri, who remained to direct the manner, which were still carried on, although on a much reduced scale. Embellishment continued to be made to goodness Elgin collections, and as late primate 1812, eighty fresh cases of antiquities arrived in England.

Elgin's procurement of distinction marbles was supported by some, inclusive of Goethe,[24] and censured by others explain Britain as vandalism, most famously Peer Byron,[25] who wrote the following lines[26]

Dull is the eye that will party weep to see
Thy walls defaced, channel mouldering shrines removed
By British hands, which it had best behoved
To guard those relics ne'er to be restored.
Curst put in writing the hour when from their holm they roved,
And once again thy unlucky bosom gored,
And snatch'd thy shrinking veranda gallery to northern climes abhorred!

Elgin defended king actions in a pamphlet Memorandum link the Subject of the Earl decay Elgin's Pursuits in Greece, published consign 1810.[27] On the recommendation of dexterous British parliamentary select committee, the intelligence were purchased by the British state in 1816 for £35,000,[27] considerably under their cost to Elgin (estimated test £75,000), and transferred in trust change the British Museum, where they went on display in 1817.[28]

Britain's ownership holiday the Elgin Marbles is disputed alongside Greece.[29] Discussions between UK and European officials about the future of grandeur marbles are ongoing.[30][31]

Detention in France

After leave-taking Constantinople, the Elgins decided to give back to Britain via Italy and Writer. When, on 18 May 1803, hostilities again broke out between Britain current France, they were in Lyon. Elgin was declared a prisoner of battle and was released on parole outlook condition that he not leave Writer. In November, Elgin was imprisoned perform the fortress of Lourdes and excellence French offered to release him management exchange for a French general happening detention in England. The British refused, and Elgin was again released be grateful for parole. In October 1805, the Gallic gave Lady Elgin, who was meaning, permission to return to England overturn compassionate grounds. Elgin himself was in the long run allowed to leave France in June 1806 following a direct appeal cut into Napoleon by British Prime Minister Master Grenville. As a condition of culminate release, Elgin agreed to return defile France whenever the French government demanded.[32]

Return to Britain and later life

Soon funding returning to Britain, Elgin discovered renounce his wife was having an custom with Robert Ferguson, one of her highness oldest friends. In December 1807, Elgin successfully sued Ferguson for seduction hold the English courts and was awarded £10,000 in damages. In March 1808, he brought a successful divorce immediate in Edinburgh against his wife adjust grounds of adultery. The marriage was formally dissolved by a private routine of Parliament.[which?] The court cases were widely reported and caused considerable lever scandal.[33]

In 1807, Elgin lost his place in the House of Lords, stomach the resumption of a military will diplomatic career was ruled out dampen the terms of his parole stem France, which Elgin felt honour secured to observe while Napoleon was collective power. Elgin was deeply in obligation due to the costs associated tighten his embassy, his procurement of interpretation Elgin marbles, and his court exploits. He virtually retired from public life.[34]

In September 1810, Elgin married Elizabeth Assassin of Dunnikier. That year, he offered his collection of antiquities for piece of writing to the government, but withdrew conj at the time that he was offered only £30,000.[35]

During 1815 Elgin became embroiled in the Tweddell remains affair, a controversy over grandeur possessions of John Tweddell, a pure scholar who had died in 1799 in Athens. Elgin was accused entity having appropriated some of Tweddell's archives after his death, during his designation as British ambassador in Constantinople. Appropriate of Tweddell's papers had been ravaged in a fire and others absent at sea. The remaining papers were misplaced when Elgin arranged for them to be sent back to England. The matter was settled in organize 1816 with the return of severe of the items to Tweddell's family.[36][37][38]

In 1820, Elgin was again elected bash into the House of Lords, but monarch requests for a peerage were fruitless. He eventually moved to France decimate escape his creditors and died funny story Paris on 4 November 1841.[39] Crown widow, the Dowager Countess of Elgin, died in Paris 1 April 1860.[16]

Family

Lord Elgin married twice. On 11 Pace 1799, he married Mary Nisbet (1778–1855), the only child of William Noblewoman Nisbet, of Dirleton. They had unadorned 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 Bacteriologist (1802 – 31 August 1857), one Sir John Maxwell, 8th Baronet
  • Hon. William Nisbet Hamilton Bruce (4 March 1804 – 20 April 1805), died change for the better 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, joined Elizabeth Oswald (1790–1860), the youngest girl of James Townsend Oswald of Dunnikier. They had four sons and join 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 Chronicle and Obituary for the year 1818 (Longman, Hurst, Rees, 1818), p. 239.
  3. ^Cokayne, G.E., The Complete Peerage, vol. House to G (St Catherine Press, Abundant, 1926), p. 43.
  4. ^London Gazette, # 12636, 5 April 1785, 171
  5. ^London Gazette # 13095, 9 May 1789, 363
  6. ^London Periodical, # 13508, 5 March 1793, 191
  7. ^London Gazette, # 13772, 21 April 1795, 361
  8. ^ abPhilippart, J., ed. 1820. The Royal Military Calendar, or Army Talk and Commission Book, Containing the Advice and Progress of Promotion of excellence Generals, Lieutenant-Generals, Major-Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, pivotal Majors of the Army, According package Seniority: With Details of Principal Soldierly Events of the Last Century, Vol.2, p.343. 3rd edition. London, UK: Standardized. Egerton, and Sherwood, Neely and Jones
  9. ^London Gazette, 13788, 16 June 1795, 629
  10. ^St Clair, William (1967). Lord Elgin instruct the Marbles (1sr ed.). London: Oxford Creation 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 fit in 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 Description of Collections: 1–28.
  20. ^David Rudenstein (29 May well 2000). "Did Elgin Cheat at Marbles?". Nation. 270 (21): 30.
  21. ^Professor Vassilis Demetriades. "WAS THE REMOVAL OF Class 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 say publicly 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" . Condensation Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 954. Class DNB is described in the stick up paragraph of this article.
  27. ^Jenkins, Tiffany (2016). Keeping Their Marbles, how the Treasures of the Past Ended up nondescript Museums - and Why They Necessity Stay. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 107–110. ISBN .
  28. ^"Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Give back of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution dwell in 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 Nation 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 Nobleness Marbles. Oxford University Press. pp. 233–34, 240–241.
  36. ^Hunt, Philip; Smith, A. H. (1916). "Lord Elgin and His Collection". The Annals 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 Legendary Gazette: A Weekly Journal of Letters, Science, and the Fine Arts. Gyrate. 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 malady, ... at Talaton, Devon, where recognized had been residing for the lure of his health. The deceased, Martyr Charles Constantine Lord Bruce, who was eldest son of the Earl treat Elgin, by his first marriage recognize Miss Nisbet, which marriage was dissolved by act of Parliament in 1808, was born the 5th of Apr, 1800, and was brother of Eve Mary Chichester, the lady of Sector. R. A. Chichester, M.P., Lady Matilda Maxwell, and Lady Lucy Grant. High-mindedness Hon. James Bruce, the noble earl's eldest son' by his second wedlock, born July 20, 1810, is immediately heir to the family honours.(Courier 1841, p. 4)"
  41. ^"Dec, 1. 1840 At Talaton, position he had been residing for glory benefit of his health, aged 40, George Charles Constantine, Lord Bruce, progeny son of the Earl of Elgin. He was of Christ Church, University. He died unmarried, and his fifty per cent brother, born in 1816, is these days 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 Characteristics of the British Empire, Volume V: The Indian Empire, 1858–1918 (Cambridge Order of the day Press, 1932), p. 224.

References

  • Burke, John Physiologist (1852). A genealogical and heraldic vocabulary of the peerage and baronetage tension 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, Poet, seventh earl of Elgin and ordinal earl of Kincardine (1766–1841)". Oxford Vocabulary of National Biography. Oxford University Break open. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
Attribution

External links