Biography of Lord Elgin:
There were several individuals with the title of Lord Elgin, and two of the most notable ones are Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, and James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin.
Below are brief biographies for each of them:
1. Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin (1766–1841):
Early Life:
Thomas Bruce was born on July 20, 1766, in Broomhall, Fife, Scotland.
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Diplomatic Career:
He had a notable diplomatic career and served as the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803.
Elgin Marbles:
Thomas Bruce is perhaps best known for his controversial removal of the Parthenon Marbles (also known as the Elgin Marbles) from the Acropolis in Athens. He was the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire when he obtained permission from the Ottoman authorities to remove sculptures from the Parthenon.
Legacy:
The Elgin Marbles were later sold to the British Museum in London. The controversy surrounding their removal and ownership remains a subject of debate.
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Later Years:
Lord Elgin also served as Governor-General of the Province of Canada from 1847 to 1854.
Death:
He died on November 14, 1841, in Paris, France.
2. James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin (1811–1863):
Early Life:
James Bruce was born on July 20, 1811, in London, England, the son of Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin.
Governor-General of India:
James Bruce served as the Governor-General of India from 1862 to 1863.
China and the Second Opium War:
Lord Elgin played a significant role in China during the Second Opium War (1856–1860). He served as the British High Commissioner to China and negotiated the Treaty of Tientsin, which opened more Chinese ports to foreign trade.
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Relief of Peking:
Elgin's forces participated in the relief of the foreign legations in Peking (Beijing) during the Boxer Rebellion. Unfortunately, he fell ill during the campaign and died shortly afterward.
Legacy:
Lord Elgin's actions during the Second Opium War, particularly the looting and destruction of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) in Beijing, have been a subject of historical debate and criticism.
Death:
James Bruce, the 8th Earl of Elgin, died on November 20, 1863, in Dharamshala, India.
Both Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, and James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, played significant roles in diplomatic and political spheres, each leaving a mark on history, albeit with controversies associated with their actions.