SALT, Henry. Lichfield, Staffordshire 14.6.1780 — Desouk 80 km east of Alexandria, Egypt 30.10.1827. British Diplomat, Traveller, Collector of Antiquities and Pioneer of Egyptology. The youngest child of physician Thomas Salt and Alice Butt, educated in Lichfield, Market Bosworth and Birmingham. Trained as portrait-painter and went to London in 1797, but soon abandoned the career as an artist. In 1802-06 accompanied Georg Annesley, Viscount Valentia, on a long tour to India, Ceylon, Ethiopia and Egypt. In 1809-11 on diplomatic mission to Ethiopia, 1815 nominated Consul-General in Egypt, stationed in Cairo. He achieved good relations with Mohammed Ali. Conducted and financed excavations in Egypt and collected antiquities for British Museum (and for his own collection). Apparently unmarried.
Publications: “Account of the caves in Salsette”, TrLitSocBombay 1, 1819, 41-52.
– Voyage to Abyssinia and Travels into the Interior of that country, executed under the orders of the British government in the years 1809 and 1810. 12+454 p. L. 1814, German translation 1815.
– A book about hieroglyphs, 1825; illustrated Lord Annesley’s travel book by drawings.
Sources: Dawson & Uphill, Who Was Who in Egyptology. Rev. 2nd ed. L. 1972; *J. Halls, Life and Correspondence of H.S. L. 1834; *D. Manlee & P. Rée, H.S.: Artist, Traveller, Diplomat, Egyptologist. L. 2001; *D. Manlee, Oxford D.N.B.; W.W[roth], D.N.B. 50, 1897, 212f.; Wikipedia with portrait.
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