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Which collections formed the original holdings of the British Museum?
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museum
Interior of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
The British Museum was established by an act of Parliament in 1753 and was originally based on three foundational collections:12
- Sir Hans Sloane: A physician and naturalist whose extensive collection of books, manuscripts, and curiosities formed the primary basis for the museum.13
- Sir Robert Cotton: An antiquarian whose library of historical documents, manuscripts, and coins provided the foundation for the museum's manuscript collection.14
- Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford: A collector whose library of manuscripts and books was the third major component of the original holdings.12
These collections, which included significant library materials, were housed at Montagu House and opened to the public in 1759. In 1757, the holdings were further expanded by the addition of the Royal Library, which contained books collected by English monarchs from Edward IV to George II.12