About Bernardino Drovetti
Bernardino Michele Maria Drovetti (January 7, 1776 – March 5, 1852) was an Italian collector of antiquities, diplomat, and Egyptologist. He is best remembered for having acquired the Turin Royal Canon and for his vast collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. == Biography == Born in Barbania, a comune near Turin in the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, Drovetti later obtained French nationality and joined the French army, eventually rising to the rank of Chef d'escadron. As an official, during the French campaign in Egypt (1798–99) he distinguished himself by saving the life of Joachim Murat, and later he became the French Consul-General of Egypt during both the Empire (until 1814) and the Bourbon Restoration, between 1820 and 1829. He also earned Wāli Muhammad Ali's trust and had a role in some of the latter's administrative reforms. In 1820, he was awarded the title of Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur. During his stay in Egypt, Drovetti became a passionate and avid collector of Egyptian antiquities. He engaged several agents and was particularly active in Luxor; shortly he gathered huge amounts of findings which he managed to sell in Europe. His first collection was refused by France, but was acquired by King Charles Felix of Sardinia in 1824 and carried to Turin, where it became the first core of the future Museo Egizio. Another collection was purchased by King Charles X of France and is now stored at the Louvre.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.