Alfred Chester Beatty
Encyclopedia
Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875 – 19 January 1968)Seanad 1985: "Chester Beatty died at the Princess Grace Clinic, Monte Carlo, on 19 January 1968, [...]" (some sources give this as 20 January). was a mining magnate and millionaire, often called the "King of Copper
". U.S.
-born, he was naturalised British
in 1933, and made an honorary citizen of Ireland
in 1957. A collector of Oriental art and books, he bequeathed the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri to the British Museum
and the Chester Beatty Library
to Dublin, Ireland.
In 1875, Alfred Chester Beatty was born in New York City
; he graduated from Columbia University
as a mining engineer. He made his fortune mining in Cripple Creek
, Colorado
, and other mining concerns the world over. He was often called the "King of Copper".
A collector from an early age, he had, by the 1940s, built up a remarkable and impressive collection of Oriental art and books. He also owned 19 ancient Egypt
ian papyri that he gave to the British Museum, including the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri and the Chester Beatty Medical Papyrus
.Marry 2004. He moved his collections to Dublin, Ireland, in 1950. The Chester Beatty Library, which houses the collection, was moved to Dublin Castle
from Shrewsbury road in 2000.
Knight
ed in 1954, Beatty was made an honorary citizen of Ireland in 1957, and on his death in 1968, he was accorded a state funeral – one of the few private citizens in Irish history to receive such an honour. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
.
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
". U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born, he was naturalised British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1933, and made an honorary citizen of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
in 1957. A collector of Oriental art and books, he bequeathed the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
and the Chester Beatty Library
Chester Beatty Library
The Chester Beatty Library was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1950, to house the collections of mining magnate, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The present library, on the grounds of Dublin Castle, opened on February 7, 2000, the 125th anniversary of Sir Alfred's birth and was named European Museum...
to Dublin, Ireland.
In 1875, Alfred Chester Beatty was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; he graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
as a mining engineer. He made his fortune mining in Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek may refer to:Places* Cripple Creek, Colorado* Cripple Creek, VirginiaSongs* "Cripple Creek ", traditional folk song* "Up on Cripple Creek" by The Band* "Cripple Creek Ferry" by Neil Young on the album After the Gold Rush...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and other mining concerns the world over. He was often called the "King of Copper".
A collector from an early age, he had, by the 1940s, built up a remarkable and impressive collection of Oriental art and books. He also owned 19 ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian papyri that he gave to the British Museum, including the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri and the Chester Beatty Medical Papyrus
Chester Beatty Medical Papyrus
The Chester Beatty Medical Papyrus is one of the extant medical papyri from ancient Egypt. It is dedicated to magical incantations against headaches and remedies for anorectal ailments,Banov 1965, from the title . and is dated around 1200 BC...
.Marry 2004. He moved his collections to Dublin, Ireland, in 1950. The Chester Beatty Library, which houses the collection, was moved to Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
from Shrewsbury road in 2000.
Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1954, Beatty was made an honorary citizen of Ireland in 1957, and on his death in 1968, he was accorded a state funeral – one of the few private citizens in Irish history to receive such an honour. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.
External links
- CBL.ie – Chester Beatty Library website