Lord Elgin (Thomas Bruce)

Thomas Bruce, known as Lord Elgin, was a Scottish nobleman and diplomat born in 1766. He is best known for his role as the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and for acquiring the Parthenon sculptures from Greece in the early 19th century. These sculptures—part of the Parthenon temple on Athens—were removed with the Ottoman ruler's permission, then transported to Britain and eventually displayed in the British Museum. Elgin's actions sparked ongoing debates about cultural heritage, art preservation, and national ownership, highlighting the complex legacy of colonial and imperial excavation practices.