Robert Hamilton Lang
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Hamilton Lang KCMG
(1832-1913) was a Scottish-born financier, diplomat and collector of antiquities.
from which he entered the University of Glasgow
. Following graduation, Lang entered business and after a period posted in Beirut, was sent to Cyprus in 1861. In 1863 Lang was appointed manager of the Imperial Ottoman Bank
in Larnaca
.
During his time in Cyprus, Lang also served as Acting Vice-Consul of Cyprus and as full Consul from 1871 ‘till his departure for Cairo in 1872, to run the bank’s operations there. In 1875 Lang was appointed a director of the Imperial Ottoman Bank at Constantinople.
, in particular the site of ancient Idalion
, and Pyla
. In 1870 Lang loaned a collection of his Cypriot antiquities to the Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow (subsequently donating this collection to the new Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
in 1903) and in 1872, the British Museum
purchased a major part of his remaining collection, with other parts going to the Louvre
in Paris and to museums in Berlin.
Lang wrote an account of his excavations at the Idalion site, this published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature
(second series, volume 11, 1878), and a further account of his archaeological excavations in Cyprus in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine (1905.) (Lang also wrote the book Cyprus: its history, its present resources, and future prospects (Macmillan & Co., 1878) based on his evaluation of the economic potential of the island.)
in 1886. Lang retired back to Britain to Dedham in Essex. Ill health precluded his attendance at the marriage of his second daughter (Mary Alice Lang) in New York in 1911 and he died at Hampstead, London, in 1913.
Apart from his father having been a Church of Scotland minister, Robert Hamilton Lang’s younger brother, the Very Rev Dr John Marshall Lang
(1834-1909) was a Church of Scotland minister, a Moderator of its General Assembly (1893-94) and Principal of the University of Aberdeen
(1900-09.) Robert Hamilton Lang’s nephew (third son of son of John Marshall Lang), Cosmo Gordon Lang was to become Archbishop of York
(1909-1928) and latterly, Archbishop of Canterbury
from 1928-1942. Another nephew (the Very Rev. Marshall Buchanan Lang
, fifth son of John Marshall Lang) was to be appointed Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
, 1935-36.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1832-1913) was a Scottish-born financier, diplomat and collector of antiquities.
Early life and career
A son of the Rev. Gavin Lang, parish minister at Glassford, Lanarkshire, Robert Hamilton Lang was born in Scotland in 1832 and received his schooling at the famous Hamilton AcademyHamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
from which he entered the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. Following graduation, Lang entered business and after a period posted in Beirut, was sent to Cyprus in 1861. In 1863 Lang was appointed manager of the Imperial Ottoman Bank
Ottoman Bank
The Ottoman Bank was founded in 1856 in the Galata business section of İstanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, as a joint venture between British interests, the Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas of France, and the Ottoman government.The opening capital of the Bank consisted of 135,000 shares,...
in Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
.
Excavations and collections
During his time on Cyprus Lang began acquiring antiquities, this leading to his own excavations around the villages of DhaliDali, Cyprus
Dali is a large village in Cyprus, located south east of the capital Nicosia and close to the ancient city of Idalion. By the 2001 census it had a total population of 5,834.Now in 2007 Dali has reached the population of 7,564....
, in particular the site of ancient Idalion
Idalium
Idalium was an ancient city in Cyprus, near modern Dali, Nicosia District. Idalium was one of 10 Cypriot kingdoms. The city was founded by the Achaean-Greeks and their king Chalcanor after the Trojan war . The Achaeans were traveling all night and one soldier when he first saw the sun said “idou...
, and Pyla
Pyla
Pyla is a village in Larnaca District, Cyprus. It is one of only four villages located within the United Nations Buffer Zone, the other three being Athienou, Troulloi and Deneia. Pyla is located in the eastern part of the island, adjacent to the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia...
. In 1870 Lang loaned a collection of his Cypriot antiquities to the Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow (subsequently donating this collection to the new Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. The building houses one of Europe's great civic art collections...
in 1903) and in 1872, 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...
purchased a major part of his remaining collection, with other parts going to the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
in Paris and to museums in Berlin.
Lang wrote an account of his excavations at the Idalion site, this published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
(second series, volume 11, 1878), and a further account of his archaeological excavations in Cyprus in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine (1905.) (Lang also wrote the book Cyprus: its history, its present resources, and future prospects (Macmillan & Co., 1878) based on his evaluation of the economic potential of the island.)
Later career and ecclesiastical family
Lang was latterly appointed Director General of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, based in Constantinople, and was invested Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1886. Lang retired back to Britain to Dedham in Essex. Ill health precluded his attendance at the marriage of his second daughter (Mary Alice Lang) in New York in 1911 and he died at Hampstead, London, in 1913.
Apart from his father having been a Church of Scotland minister, Robert Hamilton Lang’s younger brother, the Very Rev Dr John Marshall Lang
John Marshall Lang
John Marshall Lang CVO was a Church of Scotland minister and author.He was born into an eminent ecclesiastical family on 14 May 1834 and educated at Glasgow University. He was Minister at Aberdeen, Fyvie, Glasgow and Edinburgh. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland...
(1834-1909) was a Church of Scotland minister, a Moderator of its General Assembly (1893-94) and Principal of the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
(1900-09.) Robert Hamilton Lang’s nephew (third son of son of John Marshall Lang), Cosmo Gordon Lang was to become Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
(1909-1928) and latterly, Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
from 1928-1942. Another nephew (the Very Rev. Marshall Buchanan Lang
Marshall Buchanan Lang
The Very Rev Marshall Buchanan Lang DD, MA, TD was an eminent Church of Scotland minister and author.He was born into an eminent ecclesiastical family in 1868 and educated at Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University. He was Minister at Oldmeldrum, Dundee and then his father’s former Kirk at...
, fifth son of John Marshall Lang) was to be appointed Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
, 1935-36.