author
Joseph Planta
1744–1827
A Swiss-born scholar who rose to lead the British Museum, he helped shape one of the great libraries of his age while also writing on language and history.
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About the author
Born in Castasegna, Switzerland, on February 21, 1744, he moved to England with his family and built a long career at the British Museum. He became Principal Librarian in 1799 and held the post until his death in London on December 3, 1827.
Alongside his museum work, he was known as a linguist and historian. He published studies on the Romansh language and wrote on Swiss history, showing the range of interests that made him more than an administrator.
He is remembered both for his role in the early development of the British Museum's library and for bringing a European scholarly outlook to British intellectual life.