Sir Henry Ellis, Principal Librarian of the British Museum

Photograph of a three-quarter length portrait of Sir Henry Ellis (1777–1869), seated on a chair, facing towards the camera. He poses with his right arm resting on the back of his chair and his left arm placed on his left leg. He wears a three-piece suit and spectacles.

Ellis moved to the British Museum in 1800, from the Bodleian in Oxford. He was appointed Keeper of Printed Books in 1806 and subsequently Keeper of Manuscripts in 1812. He became Principal Librarian at the museum in 1827. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1856 but by this time, his colleague Anthony Panizzi was in charge in all but name.