Francis W. Galpin (1858–1945)

Francis William Galpin (1858–1945) was Great Britain&s;s most prolific and important collector of historical and ethnographic musical instruments during the nineteenth century. During his lifetime he gathered together over 650 specimens from throughout the world, with some pieces dating as early as the fifteenth century. Instruments from his collection were included in various important exhibitions during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the majority of his collection (560 instruments) was acquired in 1917 by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Many of his remaining instruments are located at other museums, primarily in England and the United States.