January 15th, 2024
| Company: | British Museum |
| Telephone: | +44 (0) 20 7323 8299 |
| Web site: | http://www.britishmuseum.org |
| E-mail: | information@britishmuseum.org |
On this date, the British Museum opened its doors at Montague House in London. It was incorporated by an act of Parliament in 1753, following the death of British medical doctor and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, who had bequeathed his personal collection of books, manuscripts, coins, medals and antiquities to Britain. As the national museum of the United Kingdom, the British Museum houses many of the world’s most prized treasures. The national library moved to separate facilities in 1997.
