Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin

"Lord Elgin" and "Thomas Elgin" redirect here. For the peerage and others who were known by that name or title, see Earl of Elgin.

The Right Honourable
The Earl of Elgin
FSA Scot
Lord Elgin, by Anton Graff, c. 1788.
British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
In office
1799–1803
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byFrancis Jackson
Succeeded byWilliam Drummond
Personal details
Born(1766-07-20)20 July 1766
Broomhall, Fife, Scotland
Died14 November 1841(1841-11-14) (aged 75)
Paris, France
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Mary Nisbet (m. 1799)
Elizabeth Oswald (m. 1810)
Children11, including James, Robert, Thomas, and Augusta
Parent(s)Charles Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin
Martha Whyte
Known forThe controversial procurement of marble sculptures from the Parthenon, Acropolis of Athens
Signature

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine, FSA Scot (/ˈɛlɡɪn/ EL-ghin; 20 July 1766 – 14 November 1841), often known as Lord Elgin, was a Scottish nobleman, diplomat, and collector, known primarily for the controversial procurement of marble sculptures (known as the Elgin Marbles) from the Parthenon and other structures on the Acropolis of Athens.[1]

  1. ^ "Elgin and Kincardine, Earls of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 267–268, see first para.