汉斯·斯隆与不列颠博物馆（大英博物馆）
1753年1月11日，斯隆平静地离开了人世，享年93岁。斯隆身后留给世人的是他毕生的全部收藏，总数约为70909件各类收藏品和50000册图书。斯隆去世后，斯隆的遗嘱托管人立即召开会议，大家公推皇家学会时任会长担任主席，代表委员会向英王提出购买斯隆藏品的建议。但英王认为皇家财力难以支付这笔费用，财政大臣也认为不能用公款购买"零星的小玩意儿"，因此英王对购买斯隆收藏的态度十分冷淡。
托人于是又诉诸国会，并为化解国会中的反对力量，甚至同意在国会收购斯隆藏品的前提下，他们愿意放弃托管人的权利，改由国会另行指定托管人。不过有几点基本原则是他们坚持的：藏品必须维持其整体性，不可分散保存；保存之目的是为了一般大众，他们可以自由参观或详细观察；如果基于大众使用的便利性，可以将收藏移出切尔西庄园，妥善地放置在伦敦市或其郊区，最后这点和斯隆生前曾表达的意愿相违背。
在国会正在为是否收购斯隆的收藏争论不休的时候，远在彼得堡的科学院表示愿意出资购买，但斯隆的好友们仍坚持将收藏留在伦敦。当时英国国会下院议长是关心保护文物的昂兹洛（Arthur onslow，1691-1768），他可以说是不列颠博物馆建立的催生婆。
在昂兹洛的建议下，设特别委员会审定斯隆收藏的价值，结果显示远远超过斯隆提出的2万英镑的出让费，大约至少值8万英镑。但财政大臣仍反对购买斯隆的收藏，理由是要购买的还有哈利（Robert Harley，1661-1724家族和柯顿（Sir Robert Bruce Cottoll，1571－1631）家族的图书、手稿和国家文件等的收藏。昂兹洛机智地立即抓住这句话，鼓励委员会就购买斯隆爵士收藏的同时，附带收购哈利、柯顿家族的收藏而向议会提出议案。为此，英国议会下院正式通过建立不列颠博物馆的《大英博物馆法》，并与1753年6月7日获得英王的批准。
为收购斯隆爵士等人的收藏，《大英博物馆法》遵循斯隆的遗嘱。规定未来的收藏将永久保存并可供人利用："该博物馆或收藏将保存并维持下去，不仅供学者和好奇的人们来视察和娱乐，而且要让公众使用并获益"。法案决定采用发行彩票的办法筹募购买收藏的资金。
在这项长达26页的法案中，超过12页是有关发行彩票的内容。按照法案规定，彩金总额30万英镑，彩票面额3英镑，其中20万设为4259个奖项，设定的奖级包括从一个1万英镑的头奖到3000个10英镑的末奖。最后，编号为46885彩票的持有者获得头奖，于1753年12月提走了1万英镑的奖金。这次十八世纪的彩票发行，在当时的英国引起不小的轰动，获利的不是中奖的彩民而是操纵彩票炒作和赌博的投机人，其中还爆出过丑闻和讼案。为此，还有人抨击国会的吝啬，认为如果国会不是如此吝啬，就不会有彩票，也就不会有舞弊行为。
彩票发行后，在付过奖金等费用后，共募得资金95194.82英镑，交由托管人支配。用这笔经费，托管人以2万英镑购买了汉斯的收藏，1万英镑购买了哈利家族的图书馆，另以一万英镑买下蒙太古宫（MontaguHouse）作为博物馆的馆舍，除了整修和维护蒙太古宫所需费用外，其余的钱有3万英镑购买了政府债券，以备以后维持博物馆之用。
经过一段时间的准备，1759年1月15日，不列颠博物馆终于正式开馆，对外开放。
提供大英博物馆网站提供的资料，更加准确详实。其中提到斯隆爵士的藏品数量，是说“His collection then amounted to more than 71,000objects. Chiefly natural history specimens, the collection also included 1,125 "things relating to the customs of ancient times or antiquities" and 23,000 coins and medals. There were also 50,000books, prints and manuscripts, together with a herbarium (acollection of dried plants).”——总数超过71000件，主要是自然历史标本，还包括“1125件与古代传统或古物有关的物品”和23000枚货币和徽章。还有5万件书籍、印刷品和手稿以及植物标本集。这个说法比上文要准确。
http://www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/history_and_the_building/sir_hans_sloane.aspx
Sir Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane (1660 -1753) was born in Killyleagh, Ireland in relatively modest circumstances. Inspired by a childhood interest in natural history, he studied medicine in London and France. It was said of him by William Stukeley, the antiquary, that he was "an instance of the great power of industry which can advance a man to a considerable height in the world's esteem with moderate parts & learning..."
His career as a collector really began when in 1687, as personal physician, he accompanied the new Governor, the Duke of Albermarle,to Jamaica. He collected some 800 species of plants and other live specimens to bring back to London. An account of his travels was published in 1707 and 1725.
On his return to London in 1689 Sloane set up a successful medicalpractice at his home in No. 3 Bloomsbury Place - coincidentallyjust along the street from the present Museum building. He had agood bedside manner and accumulated wealthy and aristocraticpatients, among them Queen Anne and Kings George I and II, but alsoparticipated in charitable work.
An innovative doctor, Sloane promoted inoculation againstsmallpox, the use of quinine (a treatment for malaria) and thehealth-giving properties of drinking chocolate mixed with milk. Hebecame President of the College of Physicians in 1719 and in 1727succeeded Sir Isaac Newton as President of the Royal Society.
In 1695 he married Elizabeth Langley, widow of Fulk Rose ofJamaica. They had two surviving daughters, Sarah who married GeorgeStanley of Paultons, Hampshire and Elizabeth who became LadyCadogan. He was created a Baronet in 1716.
He absorbed complete collections made by others, among themWilliam Charlton (Courten) (1642-1702) and James Petiver (d.1718)and also received objects from friends and patients. One wit calledhim "the foremost toyman of his time". As a result his collectionoutgrew the house at No. 3 Bloomsbury Place and he purchased No. 4as well.
In 1742 he moved with his collections to a manor house inChelsea. His time there is still commemorated by such place namesas 'Sloane Square' and 'Hans Crescent'.
Sloane died at the age of 93 in 1753 and was buried at ChelseaOld Church. His collection then amounted to more than 71,000objects. Chiefly natural history specimens, the collection alsoincluded 1,125 "things relating to the customs of ancient times orantiquities" and 23,000 coins and medals. There were also 50,000books, prints and manuscripts, together with a herbarium (acollection of dried plants).
A group of Trustees was appointed under the terms of his will tooversee the distribution of the collection which was left to KingGeorge II for the nation. Parliament intervened and Sloane'scollection was acquired on payment of £20,000 to his two daughtersand became the foundation of the British Museum.
