Collecting the World : Hans Sloane and the Origins of the British Museum

In 1759 the British Museum opened its doors to the general public―the first free national museum in the world. James Delbourgo’s biography of Hans Sloane recounts the story behind its creation, told through the life of a figure with an insatiable ambition to pit universal knowledge against superstition and the means to realize his dream. Born in northern Ireland in 1660, Sloane amassed a fortune as a London society physician, becoming a member of the Whig establishment and president of the Royal Society and Royal College of Physicians. His wealth and contacts enabled him to assemble an encyclopedic collection of specimens and objects―the most famous cabinet of curiosities of its time. For Sloane, however, collecting a world of objects meant collecting a world of people, including slaves. His marriage to the heir of sugar plantations in Jamaica gave Sloane access to the experiences of planters and the folkways of their human property. With few curbs on his passion for collecting, he established a network of agents to supply artifacts from China, India, North America, the Caribbean, and beyond. Wampum beads, rare manuscripts, a shoe made from human skin―nothing was off limits to Sloane’s imagination. This splendidly illustrated volume offers a new perspective on the entanglements of global scientific discovery with imperialism in the eighteenth century. The first biography of Sloane based on the full range of his writings and collections, __Collecting the__ __World__ tells the rich and complex story of one of the Enlightenment’s most controversial luminaries. In 1759 The British Museum Opened Its Doors To The General Public--the First Free National Museum In The World. James Delbourgo's Biography Of Hans Sloane Recounts The Story Behind Its Creation, Told Through The Life Of A Figure With An Insatiable Ambition To Pit Universal Knowledge Against Superstition And The Means To Realize His Dream. Born In Northern Ireland In 1660, Sloane Amassed A Fortune As A London Society Physician, Becoming A Member Of The Whig Establishment And President Of The Royal Society And Royal College Of Physicians. His Wealth And Contacts Enabled Him To Assemble An Encyclopedic Collection Of Specimens And Objects--the Most Famous Cabinet Of Curiosities Of Its Time. For Sloane, However, Collecting A World Of Objects Meant Collecting A World Of People, Including Slaves. His Marriage To The Heir Of Sugar Plantations In Jamaica Gave Sloane Access To The Experiences Of Planters And The Folkways Of Their Human Property. With Few Curbs On His Passion For Collecting, He Established A Network Of Agents To Supply Artifacts From China, India, North America, The Caribbean, And Beyond. Wampum Beads, Rare Manuscripts, A Shoe Made From Human Skin--nothing Was Off Limits To Sloane's Imagination. This Splendidly Illustrated Volume Offers A New Perspective On The Entanglements Of Global Scientific Discovery With Imperialism In The Eighteenth Century. The First Biography Of Sloane Based On The Full Range Of His Writings And Collections, Collecting The World Tells The Rich And Complex Story Of One Of The Enlightenment's Most Controversial Luminaries. -- Introduction: The Original Sloane Ranger -- Part One. Empire Of Curiosities: Transplantation -- Island Of Curiosities -- Keeping The Species From Being Lost -- Part Two. Assembling The World: Becoming Hans Sloane -- The World Comes To Bloomsbury -- Putting The World In Order -- Creating The Public's Museum. James Delbourgo. First Published In The United Kingdom As Collecting The World: The Life And Curiosity Of Hans Sloane In 2017 By Penguin Books Ltd., London -- Title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 425-471) And Index. Winner of the Leo Gershoy AwardWinner of the Louis Gottschalk PrizeA Times Book of the WeekA Guardian Book of the Week“A wonderfully intelligent book.”—Linda Colley“A superb biography—humane, judicious and as passionately curious as Sloane himself.”—Times Literary SupplementWhen the British Museum opened its doors in 1759, it was the first free national public museum in the world. Collecting the World tells the story of the eccentric collector whose thirst for universal knowledge brought it into being.A man of insatiable curiosity and wide-ranging interests, Hans Sloane assembled a collection of antiquities, oddities, and artifacts from around the British Empire. It became the most famous cabinet of curiosities of its time. With few curbs on his passion, he established a network of agents to supply him with objects from China, India, the Caribbean, and beyond. Wampum beads, rare manuscripts, a shoe made of human skin: nothing was off limits, regardless of its human cost. The first biography of Sloane based on his complete writings, Collecting the World portrays one of the Enlightenment's most original and controversial luminaries.“Engrossing...situates Sloane within the welter of intellectual and political crosscurrents that marked his times.”—New York Times Book Review“A magnificent scholarly coup and an enthralling read... It conveys the excitement of original research as well as the thrill of tracking exotic curiosities to their source.”—Sunday Times“This book is a fitting tribute to [Sloane's] contradiction-riven life. Collecting the World is about the torment of slavery, and it's about buttered muffins and about snakes shot on boats. It teaches us about how we know, how we organize and discipline our knowledge.”—New Republic In 1759 the British Museum opened its doors to the general public--the first free national museum in the world. James Delbourgo's biography of Hans Sloane recounts the story behind its creation, told through the life of a figure with an insatiable ambition to pit universal knowledge against superstition and the means to realize his dream. Born in northern Ireland in 1660, Sloane amassed a fortune as a London society physician, becoming a member of the Whig establishment and president of the Royal Society and Royal College of Physicians. His wealth and contacts enabled him to assemble an encyclopedic collection of specimens and objects--the most famous cabinet of curiosities of its time. For Sloane, however, collecting a world of objects meant collecting a world of people, including slaves. His marriage to the heir of sugar plantations in Jamaica gave Sloane access to the experiences of planters and the folkways of their human property. With few curbs on his passion for collecting, he established a network of agents to supply artifacts from China, India, North America, the Caribbean, and beyond. Wampum beads, rare manuscripts, a shoe made from human skin--nothing was off limits to Sloane's imagination. This splendidly illustrated volume offers a new perspective on the entanglements of global scientific discovery with imperialism in the eighteenth century. The first biography of Sloane based on the full range of his writings and collections, Collecting the World tells the rich and complex story of one of the Enlightenment's most controversial luminaries.-- Provided by publisher In 1759 the British Museum opened its doors to the general public--the first free national museum in the world. James Delbourgo's biography of Hans Sloane recounts the story behind its creation, told through the life of a figure with an insatiable ambition to pit universal knowledge against superstition and the means to realize his dream. Born in northern Ireland in 1660, Sloane amassed a fortune as a London society physician, becoming a member of the Whig establishment and president of the Royal Society and Royal College of Physicians. His wealth and contacts enabled him to assemble an encyclopedic collection of specimens and objects--the most famous cabinet of curiosities of its time. For Sloane, however, collecting a world of objects meant collecting a world of people, including slaves. His marriage to the heir of sugar plantations in Jamaica gave Sloane access to the experiences of planters and the folkways of their human property. With few curbs on his passion for collecting, he established a network of agents to supply artifacts from China, India, North America, the Caribbean, and beyond. Wampum beads, rare manuscripts, a shoe made from human skin--nothing was off limits to Sloane's imagination. This splendidly illustrated volume offers a new perspective on the entanglements of global scientific discovery with imperialism in the eighteenth century. The first biography of Sloane based on the full range of his writings and collections, Collecting the World tells the rich and complex story of one of the Enlightenment's most controversial luminaries.-- Résumé de l'éditeur

In 1759 the British Museum opened its doors to the public—the first free national museum in the world. James Delbourgo recounts the story behind its creation through the life of Hans Sloane, a controversial luminary with an insatiable ambition to pit universal knowledge against superstition and few curbs on his passion for collecting the world.