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== History ==

== History ==

The history of the British Museum began when Sir [[Hans Sloane]] (1660-1753) left his collection of more than 71,000 objects to [[King George II]] for the nation in return for payment of £20,000 to his heirs. A group of Trustees was charged with supervising the collection. The King did not show much interest first but he was persuaded to accept it and an Act of Parliament established the British Museum in 1753.

The history of the British Museum began when Sir [[Hans Sloane]] (1660–1753) left his collection of more than 71,000 objects to [[King George II]] for the nation in return for payment of £20,000 to his heirs. A group of Trustees was charged with supervising the collection. The King did not show much interest first but he was persuaded to accept it and an Act of Parliament established the British Museum in 1753.

The Cotton collection of manuscripts, which had been given to the nation in 1700, was added to the collection and the Harleian collection of manuscripts was purchased, too.

The Cotton collection of manuscripts, which had been given to the nation in 1700, was added to the collection and the Harleian collection of manuscripts was purchased, too.

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[[File:Egypt coffin British Museum.jpg|thumb|left|Mummy case and portrait of Artemidorus around AD 100-120, from Hawara, Egypt.]]

[[File:Egypt coffin British Museum.jpg|thumb|left|Mummy case and portrait of Artemidorus around AD 100–120, from Hawara, Egypt.]]