Joseph Planta (librarian) facts for kids

Joseph Planta was an important person who worked at the British Museum for many years. He was the museum's Principal Librarian, which is like being the director, from 1799 until he passed away in 1827. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group of top scientists and thinkers.

Who Was Joseph Planta?

Joseph Planta was born in a place called Castasegna in Grisons, Switzerland, on February 21, 1744. His family, the Plantas, were from a noble background in Switzerland. His father, Reverend Andrew Planta, was a church minister. In 1752, his family moved to London, England. His father also started working at the British Museum right when it was created.

Joseph had five sisters. Four of them became governesses, which means they taught children in wealthy families. Two of his sisters, Frederica and Margaret, even worked for King George III and Queen Charlotte in the Royal Household!

Joseph's Education and Career

Joseph Planta studied languages and literature, a field called philology, at universities in Utrecht and Göttingen. These are famous universities in Europe.

After his studies, he worked as a secretary for the British ambassador in Brussels. When his father passed away in 1773, Joseph came back to London. He then took over his father's job as an assistant librarian at the British Museum. He quickly moved up, becoming the keeper of manuscripts in 1776. Finally, in 1799, he became the Principal Librarian, or director, of the entire museum. He held this important job until he died in 1827.

During his time at the British Museum, Joseph Planta did many great things:

• He created a detailed list, or catalogue, for the valuable Cotton manuscripts.
• He helped organize and move the museum's large collection of coins.
• He made the museum better for visitors. He hired assistants to help guide people, which freed up the more experienced staff.
• He also worked to improve the pay for the museum's staff.

In 1774, Joseph Planta was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This was a big honor! Soon after, he wrote a paper about the Romansh language. This is a special language spoken in the part of Switzerland where he was born. He presented this paper to the Royal Society in 1775. He also became one of the secretaries for the Royal Society in 1776.

Joseph Planta's Family Life

Joseph Planta married Elizabeth Atwood. They had a daughter named Sophia, born in 1779. They also had a son, who was also named Joseph Planta. This son grew up to become a politician and a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hastings.

Images for kids

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  Joseph Planta, the Principal Librarian of the British Museum.