The history of the British Museum began with the Irish born British physicist Hans Sloane, who died aged 93 in 1753.
During his life, he had collected many important things from all around the world.
When he died, he did not want his collection to be split up between his relatives.
He sold his collection to the parliament of King George II.
The parliament set up the British Museum to hold the collection.
By the time he died, Sloane had collected over 80,000 objects from all over the world including Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Americas.
The collection was mostly books and manuscripts.
There were many important archaeological pieces included as well.

The government looked at many possible places to build the new museum, including Buckingham House, which later became Buckingham Palace.
Eventually a building called Montagu House was chosen.
The Museum opened on 15 January 1759, although all visitors had to be shown around by stewards.
Over the years the museum began to concentrate more and more on historical objects and sculptures.
For this reason they were given the Rosetta Stone by King George III in 1802.
The Rosetta Stone had previously been important to French historians trying understand the Hieroglyph language written by the Ancient Egyptians.
In 1816 the Museum acquired the Elgin Marbles from Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin.
Elgin had taken them from the Parthenon in Athens, Greece several years earlier.
Many people disagreed with the way Elgin took them from Greece.
 They compared his acts to looting and vandalism.
People still argue about this issue today.

In 1822 King George III donated the entire Royal Library to the museum.
This contained over 65,000 books and pamphlets.
In 1823 the original building was demolished and work began on new buildings to hold the ever growing collection.
Some of the space was freed up when the National Gallery opened in 1824, as many of the Museum's paintings and drawings were moved there.
The history of the British Museum began with the Irish born British physicist Hans Sloane, who died aged 93 in 1753. During his life, he had collected many important things from all around the world. When he died, he did not want his collection to be split up between his relatives. He sold his collection to the parliament of King George II. The parliament set up the British Museum to hold the collection. By the time he died, Sloane had collected over 80,000 objects from all over the world including Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Americas. The collection was mostly books and manuscripts. There were many important archaeological pieces included as well.
The government looked at many possible places to build the new museum, including Buckingham House, which later became Buckingham Palace. Eventually a building called Montagu House was chosen. The Museum opened on 15 January 1759, although all visitors had to be shown around by stewards. Over the years the museum began to concentrate more and more on historical objects and sculptures. For this reason they were given the Rosetta Stone by King George III in 1802. The Rosetta Stone had previously been important to French historians trying understand the Hieroglyph language written by the Ancient Egyptians. In 1816 the Museum acquired the Elgin Marbles from Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin. Elgin had taken them from the Parthenon in Athens, Greece several years earlier. Many people disagreed with the way Elgin took them from Greece.  They compared his acts to looting and vandalism. People still argue about this issue today.
In 1822 King George III donated the entire Royal Library to the museum. This contained over 65,000 books and pamphlets. In 1823 the original building was demolished and work began on new buildings to hold the ever growing collection. Some of the space was freed up when the National Gallery opened in 1824, as many of the Museum's paintings and drawings were moved there.
British Museum