Charles Morton (librarian)

Charles Morton (1716 – 1799) was an English librarian and physician, best known for his work as the Assistant Librarian at the British Museum from 1756 to 1799. He was a key figure in the development of the museum's collections and played a significant role in the establishment of the institution as a major center for research and learning.

Early Life and Education

Morton was born in 1716 in Westmoreland, England. He studied at Oxford University, where he developed a keen interest in natural history and medicine. After completing his studies, he practiced as a physician in Berwick-upon-Tweed before moving to London in 1756.

Career at the British Museum

In 1756, Morton was appointed as the Assistant Librarian at the British Museum, a position he held until his death in 1799. During his tenure, he was responsible for the care and expansion of the museum's collections, including its manuscripts, prints, and drawings. He also played a crucial role in the development of the museum's cataloguing system, which laid the foundation for the modern system of library classification.

Morton's work at the British Museum was characterized by his commitment to making the collections accessible to the public. He advocated for the museum to be open to all "studious and curious persons", and was instrumental in the establishment of the museum's reading room.

Legacy

Morton's contributions to the British Museum and to the field of librarianship more broadly have been widely recognized. He is remembered as a pioneering figure in the development of modern libraries and as a champion of public access to knowledge.

See Also

• British Museum
• History of libraries
• Library classification